Outline

Reading: Livingston, Chapter 2.1-2.4, 2.6

Electromagnetic Spectrum
Anatomy of an Electromagnetic Wave
Wave Equation and Solutions in Vacuum
Dispersion Relation
Wave Equation and Solutions in a Conductor
Skin Depth
Plasma Frequency
Complex Conductivity

Chapter 2

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Chapter 2

Electromagnetic Spectrum (cont.)

Infrared (IR) or heat radiation:

Visible:
Violet
Indigo
Blue
Green
Yellow
Orange
Red

Ultraviolet:
UVA:

and UVB:
Chapter 2

Anatomy of an Electromagnetic Wave

wave:
x

z
y

transverse wave:
wavelength
period
frequency
angular frequency

wave number
Chapter 2

Wave Equation in Vacuum: Background Information

(1) = i + j + k
x

(2)

curl = cross product

of del and a vector

(3) c 2 = 1
o o

(4) Faradays Law:

E =

B
t

(5) Amperes Law:

B = o J + o o

E
t

Read a more thorough derivation in Livingston Chapter 2.1-2.2.

Chapter 2

Wave Equation in Vacuum: Derivation

E =

(1)

B
t

E
B = o J + o o
t

E = 2 E =

( B )
t

2 E
E = o o 2
t
2

(2)

Chapter 2

Solutions to Wave Equation

x
2

E
2 E = o o 2
t

z
y

Chapter 2

Practice Writing Solutions to Wave Equation

1. Write an equation for an electric field traveling in the -z direction
with wave number 9.666 x 106 m-1 and angular frequency of 2.900
x 1015 s-1

2. Write an equation for an electric field traveling in vacuum in the +z

direction with a wavelength of 500 nm.

Chapter 2

Dispersion Relationship
material

vacuum

dielectric

Chapter 2

Wave Equation in Metal (unbound e-): Derivation

Faradays Law

E =

B
t

(1)

Take the curl of Faradays Law

(2)

Substitute Amperes Law

and Ohms Law

Amperes Law

B = o J + o o

E
t

E = 2 E =

( B )
t

E
2 E
E = 2 +
t
t
2

Chapter 2

10

Dispersion Relationship in a Metal (unbound e-)

k 2 = 2 + i

Chapter 2

11

Skin Depth versus Frequency

Chapter 2

12

Plasma Frequency
Newtons Law:

dv D
v
+ m D = eX
dt

p2
N ee2
2
= 1 2
k =

m

1/ 2

Chapter 2

Nee2

p =
m

13

Plasma Frequency (cont.)

2

p
2
2

k = 1 2

Case 1: >> 1 and > p

vacuum

metal (thick)

Case 3: >> 1 and < p

Case 2: >> 1 and < p
vacuum

vacuum

vacuum

metal (thick)

metal (thin)

Chapter 2

14

Example: Typical Plasma Frequency

What is the plasma frequency (fp or p) of silver? Silver has
a density of 10.5 g/cm3, an atomic mass of 107.9 amu, and
one valence electron that contributes to conduction. For
simplicity, assume =o

Reflectivity

opaque

transparent

Frequency

Chapter 2

15

Complex Conductivity
<<1
>>1
How do we treat intermediate frequencies?

Chapter 2

16

Chapter #2: Review Questions

1. Name 3 regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. What
speed do these waves travel in vacuum?
2. What are the relationships between the following
parameters: wavelength, period, frequency, angular
frequency, and wave number?
3. Write two general forms of an equation for a wave.
4. What happens to the speed of light when it enters a
material?
5. Define skin depth in words.
6. Define plasma frequency in words.

Chapter 2

17

Important Equations
v =

v=

= 2
k=

c =
2

k 2 = 2 o o

o o

2
=

k 2 = 2 + i

1/ 2

p
k 2 = 2 1 2

1/ 2

N ee2

p = 2 =
m

Important Constants
Speed of light in vacuum: c = 3.0 x 108 m/s
Avogadros Number: NA = 6.022 x 1023 /mole
Permeability in vacuum: 1.257 x 10-6 H/m
Permittivity in vacuum: 8.85 x 10-12 F/m

Chapter 2

18