Wave Equations

Wave Equations (I)

UCF

likewise

UCF

Wave Equations (II)

Scalar Wave Equation

UCF

E
Consider vector wave equation : 2 E 2 0
t
In rectangular coordinates,

2 E 2 Ex a x 2 E y a y 2 Ez a z
Then each component of electric field should satisfy scalar wave equation.

Let u represent either Ex or E y or Ez , we have

0,
0
x
y
1
2u 2 u 0
vp
where v p

. This is a 3D wave equation.

Assume that u depends on z only, or

2u 1 2u
2 2 0
2
v p t
z

u
u
0 and
0, we have
x
y
1D scalar wave equation

UCF

General Solution to 1D Scalar Wave Equation

2u 1 2u
For 1D scalar wave equation : 2 2 2 0
z v p t
z
z
the general solution is : u ( z, t ) f (t ) g (t ).
vp
vp
Prove f (t
Let t

z
) is a solution :
vp

1
z
and
1.
, we have
z
t
vp
vp

u u
1 u u u u

z z
v p t t
2u 1 u 1 2u 2u u 2u

, 2
2
2

2
2

t
z
v p z v p t
Likewise, we can also prove g (t z / v p ) is also a solution.

UCF

Physical Understanding of General Solution

z
Plot f (t )
vp

z
f (t )
vp

z
f ( )
vp

f (

z v pt
vp

0
z
z1 v pt
z
f (t ) : stands for a wave propagatin g in z direction with veloc ity v p .
vp
forward wave, or positive wave, or incident wave
Likewise:
z
g (t ) : stands for a wave propagatin g in z direction with veloc ity v p .
vp
backward wave, or negative wave, or reflected wave
vp

0 0

r r

r r

c 2.997 108 m/s velocity of light

Sinusoidal Case

UCF

u ( z, t ) u ( z, t ) u ( z, t )
A cos[ (t

z
z
) A ] B cos[ (t ) B ]
vp
vp

A cos( t kz A ) B cos( t kz B )

where is angular frequency, k

vp

is wavenumbe r or spatial frequency.

In general, we can use plane waves to expand any arbitrary wave which
is the Fourier Transform in both time and spatial domain.

Period and Wavelength

UCF

Plot u ( z, t ) A cos(t kz)

-A

period T : T 2 , T

wavelength : k 2 ,

2
k

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Electromagnetic Spectrum

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Traveling Wave and Standing Wave

u ( z, t ) u ( z, t ) u ( z, t )
A cos(t kz A ) B cos(t kz B )

Each u ( z, t ) or u ( z, t ) is a traveling wave.Or if A or B is 0,

the total wave u( z, t ) is a traveling wave.
If A B, total wave u ( z, t ) is a standing wave.
Otherwise,u ( z, t ) is called a traveling- standing wave.

Standing Wave (1)

UCF

When A B, A 0 and B 0, u( z, t ) A[cos(t kz ) cos(t kz )]

2Asin(t )sin(kz )
2A
2A

2A

/2

/2

Standing Wave (2)

UCF

For u( z, t ) 2Asin(t )sin(kz)

/2

/2

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Phasor Form Representation

u ( z, t ) u ( z, t ) u ( z, t )
A cos( t kz A ) B cos( t kz B )
Re (Ae j A e jkz e j t ) Re( Be j B e jkz e j t )

U Ae j A e jkz U 0 e jkz (propagating in +z direction)

U Be j B e jkz U 0 e jkz

(propagating in -z direction)

0,
0
x
y