PIERS ONLINE, VOL. 6, NO.

7, 2010 613

Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in Heterogeneous Structures

R. Kadlec, P. Fiala, and D. Nešpor
Department of Theoretical and Experimental Electrical Engineering
Brno University of Technology, Kolejni 2906/4, Brno 612 00, Czech Republic

Abstract— The paper presents the problem of numerical modelling of high frequency electro-
magnetic waves propagation in inhomogeneous materials. For this method, a numerical model
was prepared. The model was created in the MatLab and the COMSOL program environment
For a layered heterogeneous medium, an algorithm was deduced for the reflection on several lay-
ers. The layers exist in the form of periodic structures which are composed of a homogeneous
material. Reflection and refraction on heterogenous material are solved by means of the numerical
method. Central in this respect are the refractions and reflections on the boundary of materials
with different properties. This method is suitable for the design application of metamaterials.
The deduced algorithm was projected for the visible spectrum.

1. INTRODUCTION
Generally, inhomogeneities and regions with different parameters appear even in the cleanest ma-
terials. During the electromagnetic wave passage through a material there occur, owing to the
material characteristics such as conductivity, permittivity, or permeability, an amplitude decrease
and a wave phase shift. If a wave impinges on an inhomogeneity, there occurs a change of its prop-
agation. This change materializes in two forms, namely in reflection and refraction. In addition to
this process, polarization and interference may appear in the waves.
For simple cases (such as a planar interface), the behaviour of an impinging wave can be calcu-
lated analytically by the help of Snell’s refraction/reflection law and the Fresnel equations. However,
in more complex structures it is difficult (and often infeasible) to perform an analytical calcula-
tion. Therefore, numerical methods are applied to facilitate the calculation process, and a wide
range of programs like ANSYS, Comsol, or Matlab can be utilized in the realization of numerical
modelling [1].
2. ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES IN ISOTROPIC DIELECTRICS MATERIALS
In the Matlab program environment, algorithms were generated that simulate reflection and refrac-
tion in a lossy environment on the interface between two dielectrics. This section of the paper is
linked to the previous modelling of light applying the related geometrical laws. The reflection and
refraction is in accordance with Snell’s law for electromagnetic waves as shown in Fig. 1 [2]. The
form of Snell’s law is p
sin θ0 k2 jωµ2 · (γ2 + jωε2 )
= =p , (1)
sin θ2 k1 jωµ1 · (γ1 + jωε1 )
where k is the wave number, γ is the conductivity, ε the permittivity and µ the permeability.
Relation (1) is defining for the boundary line between the dielectrics medium. Generally, k 1 and k 2
are complex; then angle θ2 is also complex. An electromagnetic wave is understood as the electric
field strength and the magnetic field strength. The electric component incident wave according to
Fig. 1 follows the formula
Ei = E0 e−j k1 un0 ·r , (2)
where E 0 is the amplitude electric field strength on the boundary line, r is the positional vector,
and un 0 is the unit vector of propagation direction.
The intensity of reflection beams and the intensity of refraction beams are expressed according
to the formula
Er = E1 e−jk1 ~un1 ·~r , Et = E2 e−jk2 ~un2 ·~r , (3)
where E 1 is calculated from the intensity on boundary line E 0 and reflection coefficient ρE , and
E 2 is calculated from the intensity on boundary line E 0 and transmission factor τ E :
E 1 = ρE · E 0 , E 2 = τ E · E0 . (4)
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Figure 1: Reflection and refraction of light [2]. Figure 2: Reflection and refraction on a layered het-
erogenous material.

The calculation of reflection coefficient ρE and transmission factor τ E is according to these relations:
E1 Zv2 cos θ1 − Zv1 cos θ2 E2 2Zv2 cos θ1
ρE = = , τE = = . (5)
E0 Zv2 cos θ1 + Zv1 cos θ2 E0 Zv2 cos θ1 + Zv1 cos θ2
For numerical modelling, there is a suitable relation in the form of
q
µ2 k1 cos θ0 −µ1 k22 −k12 sin2 θ0 2µ2 k1 cos θ0
Er = q E0 ·e−jk1 un1 ·r , Et = q E0 ·e−jk2 un2 ·r .
2 2 2 2 2 2
µ2 k1 cos θ0 +µ1 k2 −k1 sin θ0 µ2 k1 cos θ0 +µ1 k2 −k1 sin θ0
(6)
These relations are calculated from the basic variable and they facilitate an acceleration of the
calculation process.
Interpretation of the Fresnel equations and Snell’s laws is simple in the case of the refraction
on boundary line between the dielectrics medium. In case of refraction in a lossy medium, angle
θ2 is complex. According to relation (1), angle θ2 depends on wave numbers k 1 a k 2 , which are
generally complex; then, in medium 2 an inhomogeneous wave is propagated.
For a layered heterogeneous medium, an algorithm is deduced for the reflection on several layers.
The reflection and refraction on a heterogonous material is solved by the help of the numerical
method. The reflection on a layered material on n layers generates n primary electromagnetic
waves, according to Fig. 2. The interpretation of propagation of electromagnetic waves on a layered
heterogeneous medium is according to relation

Erl = Eil ρEl · e−j k(l+1) unrl ·rl , Etl = Eil τEl · e−j k(l+2) untl ·rl , (7)

where E rl a E tl are the reflection and refraction electromagnetic waves on the boundary line
(l = 0, . . . , max) according to Fig. 2, E il is the amplitude electric field strength on boundary line
l, ρEl a τ El are the reflection coefficient and transmission factor on boundary line l, k l is the wave
number of layer, r l is the electromagnetic wave positional vector on boundary line l, u ntl and u nrl
are the unit vectors of propagation direction.

3. PLANE WAVE PROPAGATION IN METAMATERIALS

Metamaterials are artificial structures which show electrical and magnetic characteristics (permit-
tivity, permeability) not present in the natural environment. The materials are composed of small
segments such as thin conductive wires or planar coils; thus, as a matter of fact, these materials can
be referred to as composites. However, owing to the fact that the electromagnetic wave of a given
spectrum has a wavelength which is substantially longer in comparison with that of the individual
components of a structure, the material can be regarded as homogeneous.
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Generally, materials with negative parameters constitute a group of media that possesses a
negative value of relative permittivity εr or relative permeability µr [1]. Materials with negative
permittivity are commonly found in the natural environment [1]. In this respect, the best known
items are various types of low-lossy plasma, metals and semiconductors for electromagnetic waves in
the optical and infrared spectra. Conversely, materials with negative permeability are less common
in the natural environment. Only in ferromagnetics the mutual interaction of magnetic forces is
sufficiently large and losses adequately small to facilitate the generation of negative permeability
regions. Ferrites are magnetised up until saturation and, simultaneously, the permeability tensor
is close to resonance. These materials are widely present in microwave applications.
By substituting wave equations into Maxwell’s equations [1] we obtain, for the situation in Fig. 1,
the relation
n × E = ωµH, n × E = −ωεE. (8)
Equation (8) holds if the permittivity and permeability are positive. If these constants are negative
(as shown in Fig. 3(c)), the equations can be written in the form

n × E = −ω|µ|H, n × E = ω|ε|E. (9)

Among the most notable characteristics of materials with negative parameters is the negative
refraction, namely the beam refraction to the other side from the perpendicular line during the
passage through the interface. It is apparent from Fig. 3(c) that the direction of normal component
n2n rotates, and therefore there also occurs rotation of the permeable wave direction. In view of
the signs of permittivity and permeability, materials can be classified into four groups theoretically
defined by Victor Veselago [1].
I. Both the permittivity and permeability are positive. The related items fall within the category
of isotropic dielectrics; the behaviour of an electromagnetic wave on the interface of these
materials corresponds to the description provided in Chapter 2.
II. Negative permittivity and positive permeability. The related items are metals and semicon-
ductors for electromagnetic waves in the optical and infrared spectra.
III. Both the permittivity and permeability are negative. The related items are referred to as
left-handed materials. At the incidence of a wave from the environment of group I into the
environment of group III there occur a rotation of 180◦ of the Poyinting vector. The beam
refracts to the other side from the perpendicular line as compared to the environment of
group I.
IV. Positive permittivity and negative permeability; this combination applies to ferromagnetic
materials.
Figure 3 shows numerical models in the Comsol program for the transition from non-lossy
environment I. to non-lossy environment III. and vice versa. In Fig. 3, the following situations are
described:

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Figure 3: Calculations of refractions and reflections of waves on a planar interface for various material
constants.
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a) A wave during the passage from a material with parameters (εr = 1, µr = 1) into a material
with parameters (εr = −1, µr = −1) at perpendicular incidence of the wave on the interface.
A permeable wave has the same velocity. The Poynting vector rotates, and therefore there
also occurs rotation of the wave propagation direction. During the passage into a material
with parameters (εr = −6, µr = −1), the permeable wave has a lower velocity.
b) A wave during the passage from a material with parameters (εr = 1, µr = 1) into a material
with parameters (εr = −2, µr = −1) at the incidence of the wave on the interface at an angle
of 45◦ . The permeable wave refracts to the other side from the perpendicular line (to the third
quadrant). There forms a reflected wave; during the passage into a material with parameters
(εr = −1, µr = −1) there does not occur any reflection.
c) A wave during the passage from a material with parameters (εr = −1, µr = −1) into a material
with parameters (εr = 1, µr = 1) at the incidence of the wave on the interface at an angle of
45◦ . The permeable wave refracts to the other side from the perpendicular line (to the third
quadrant). There does not occur any reflection.
d) A wave during the passage from a material with parameters (εr = −2, µr = −1) into a material
with parameters (εr = 1, µr = 1) at the incidence of the wave on the interface at an angle of
45◦ . There occurs total reflection.
4. CONCLUSIONS
Numerical modelling of wideband electromagnetic signals on field of multilayer and periodic struc-
ture optical materials in Matlab program is very time demanding. This method is suitable for
specific purposes of detail analysis.
Algorithms created in the Matlab environment are verified by the help of programs based on
the finite element method, namely programs such as Comsol and ANSYS. The paper includes a
theoretical analysis and references to the generated algorithms, which are verified using numerical
models.
Negative permittivity can be constructed on a periodic structure of electrically conductive wires,
upon which a wave impinges vertically. The structure is commonly referred to as wire media.
Another technique of constructing negative permeability is split ring resonators (SRRs). Several
models were prepared in the Comsol program for negative permittivity materials.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The research described in the paper was financially supported by the research program MSM
0021630516 and research plan MSM 0021630513, Ministry of Defence of the CR, Ministry of Indus-
try and Trade of the CR (Diagnostics of Superfast Objects for Safety Testing, FR-TI1/368), and
Czech Science Foundation (102/09/0314) and project of the BUT Grant Agency FEKT-S-10-13.
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