EM Waves and Guide Structures

ECEg 4291

Chapter 2 part 1
Electromagnetic Wave Propagation
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
 Waves are means of transporting energy or information.
(e.g of EM waves are: TV signals, radar beams, and light
rays)
 All forms of EM energy share three fundamental
characteristics: they travel at high velocity; in travelling,
they assume the properties of waves; and they radiate
outward from a source, without benefit of any discernable
physical vehicles.
 An electromagnetic wave is an energy wave produced
from an electrical discharge.
 A wave is a function of both space and time
Electromagnetic Waves Propagation
Waves in General
 Assume one dimension, a scalar wave equation takes the
form of

 Its solutions are of the form

E=f(z- ut) + g(z + ut)

 where f and g denote any function of z - ut and z + ut,
respectively
 If we particularly assume harmonic (or sinusoidal) time
dependence, the above equation becomes
Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
 Taking the imaginary part of this equation, we have
E  A sin(t  z )
Characteristics:
1. It is time harmonic.
2. A is called the amplitude of the wave and has the same
unit as E.
3. (ωt – βz) is the phase (in radians) of the wave; it
depends on time t and space variable z.
4. ω is the angular frequency (in radians/seconds); β is the
phase constant or wave number (in radians/meter)
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
 Plot of E as a function of both time and space
(a) Plot of E(z, t = constant)
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
(b) Plot of E(t, z= constant)
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
 From the plot of E(z, t = constant), the wave takes distance
λ to repeat itself and hence λ is called the wavelength (in
meters).
 From the plot of E(t, z = constant), the wave takes time T
to repeat itself; consequently T is known as the period (in
seconds).
 Since it take time T for the wave to travel distance λ at the
speed u, then
  uT
Since T = 1/f, where f is the frequency of the wave, hence

u  f
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
 Also, because
 1 2
  2f  T 
u f 
Then
2


This shows that for every wavelength of distance travelled,
a wave undergoes a phase shift of 2π radians.
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
 It can be seen that the wave E(t, z) is travelling with a
velocity u in the +z direction.
 Consider a fixed point P on the wave and sketch at times t
=0, T/4, and T/2
 From the figure, it is evident that
as the wave advances with time,
point P moves along +z direction.
Point P is a point of constant phase.
t  z  constant
dz 
 u
dt 
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
 In summary,

1. A wave is a function of both time and space

2. Though time t = 0 is arbitrarily selected as a reference
for the wave, a wave is without beginning or end
3. A negative sign in (ωt – βz)is associated with a wave
propagating in the +z direction (forward travelling or
positive going wave) whereas a positive sign indicates that
a wave is travelling in the –z direction (backward
travelling or negative-going wave).
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
 In summary,
4. Since sin (-ψ) = - sin ψ = sin (ψ + π), whereas
cos (- ψ) = cos ψ,
sin (ψ + π/2) = +cos ψ
sin (ψ + π) = - sin ψ
cos (ψ + π/2) = ˉ+ sin ψ
cos (ψ + π) = - cos ψ
where: ψ = ωt + βz
Any time-harmonic wave with above equations can be
represented in the form of sine or cosine.
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
The Electromagnetic Spectum
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation
 A large number of frequencies visualized in numerical order constitute a
spectrum
 Table in previous slide shows at what frequencies various types of
energy in the EM spectrum occur
 As frequency increases, the manifestation of EM energy becomes
dangerous to human beings
 The practical difficulties of using EM energy for communication
purposes also increase as frequency increases, until finally it can no
longer be used
 As communication methods improve, the limit to usable frequency has
been pushed higher
 Today communication satellites use frequencies near 14 GHz
 This is still far below light frequencies, but in the enclosed environment
of fiber optics, light itself can be used for radio communication
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
Example 1:
The electric field in free space is given by

 
E  50 cos 108 t  x a y V/m
(a) Find the direction of wave propagation
(b) Calculate β and the time it takes to travel a distance of λ/2
(c) Sketch the wave at t = 0, T/4, and T/2
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
Solution:
(a) From the positive sign in (ωt +βx), we infer that the
wave is propagating along –ax.
(b) In free space, u = c.
108 1
  8
  0.333rad/m
c 3x10 3
If T is the period of the wave, it takes T seconds to travel a
distance λ at speed c. Hence, to travel a distance λ/2 will
take
T 1  2  
t1      8  31.42ns
2 2   10
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
Solution:
Alternatively, because the wave is travelling at the speed
of light c,
 
 ct1 t1 
2 2c
But
2
2
   6
 1/ 3
Therefore
6
t1   31.42ns

2 3x10 8

 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
(c) To plot
At t = 0, E y  50 cos x
 2 
At t = T/4, E y  50 cos    x 
 4 
 
 50 cos x    50 sinx 
 2

 2 
At t = T/2, E y  50 cos    x 
 2 
 50 cosx     50 cosx 
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
(c) Notice that a
point P (arbitrarily
selected) on the
wave moves
along – ax as t
increases in time.
This shows that
the wave travels
along – ax.
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
Example 2:
In free space, H = 0.1 cos (2 x 108t – kx)ay A/m. Calculate
(a) k, λ, and T
(b) The time t1 it takes the wave to travel λ/8
(c) Sketch the wave at time t1.

Solution:
(a) At free space, u = c

2 x108 2
k   8
  0.667rad/m
c 3x10 3
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
Example 2:
Solution:
(a) cont.. 2
2
   3  9.425m
 23
2
2
T   10  31.416ns
 2 x108

(b) The time t1 it takes to travel λ/8 will be

  3 3
 ct1 t1     3.927ns
8 
8c 8c 8 3x108

 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
Example 2:
Solution:
(c) To plot the wave at time t1
From H = 0.1 cos (2 x 108t – kx)ay A/m
 3   2  3  
t1  c       
 8c   3  8  4
Hence
 
H y  0.1 cos kx  
 4
 Electromagnetic Waves Propagation

Waves in General
Example 2:
Solution:
(c) To plot the wave at time t1