LECTURE - 12

PYL100
Electromagnetic Waves and
Quantum Mechanics

Recap:

EM Wave Energy Density

& Intensity
POYNTING VECTOR

ur 1 ur ur
S=
( E B)

0
The Poynting Vector (S) gives the Energy per Unit Time,
per Unit Area, transported by the Fields
S energy flux density
Energy per unit volume
stored in e.m. field

u = 0 E 2 =

1
0 E 2
2

r
1
1 2
1
2
u = 0 E + B
S = c u z = c 0 E 2 z
2
2

Intensity: Average Power/Area transported by an e.m. wave:

1
I S = c 0 E02
2

Momentum in Electromagnetic Waves

Electromagnetic fields not only carry energy, they also carry
momentum.
Momentum is classically defined as the product of mass and
velocity and thus would seem irrelevant to a discussion of
electromagnetic radiation, which is both massless and
composed of waves.
However, Einstein proved that light can act as particles in some
circumstances, and that a wave-particle duality exists. And,
given that he related energy and mass (E=mc2), it becomes
more conceivable that a wave (which has an energy value) not
only has an equation to mass but a momentum as well.
Einstein proved that the momentum (p) of a photon is the ratio
of its energy to the speed of light.
p = E/c

Radiation Pressure
Waves not only carry energy but also momentum.
The effect is very small (we dont ordinarily feel pressure from light).
If light is completely absorbed during an interval t, the momentum
transferred is given by
u , and twice as much if reflected.
p =
Newtons law:

c
p
F=
t

Supposing one has a wave that hits a surface

of area A (perpendicularly), the amount of energy
transferred to that surface in time t will be

U = IAt
Radiation
pressure:
+ Example

therefore

IA t
p =
c

IA
F=
c

I
2I
pr = (total absorption), pr =
(total reflection)
c
c

Propagation of electromagnetic waves through matter is

governed by three properties of the material:
The permittivity , the permeability , and the conductivity

Each of these parameters depend on the frequency of the waves.

For light ( in optics), notably
is a function of wavelength.

Phase and Group velocities

Wave packet

Wave group

Superposition of individual waves of different wavelengths

whose interference defines the group shape.
If the velocities of the waves are same, the velocity with
which the wave group travels is the common wave
velocity.
If the phase velocities of individual is different, then
dispersion occurs.

Group and Phase Velocities

Because waves of different frequency travel at different speeds in
a dispersive medium, a wave form that incorporates a range of
frequencies, such as a wave packet (or pulse) will change shape
as it propagates. A sharply peaked wave typically flattens out.
Each sinusoidal component travels at the ordinary wave (or
phase) velocity:

The packet as a whole (the "envelope") travels at the so-called

group velocity:

EM waves in dispersive medium

Consider two plane waves
propagating in the x
direction:
Resultant

y1 = A cos ( t kx )

y2 = A cos (( + )t (k + k ) x )

k
y = y1 + y2 = 2 A cos( t k x) cos
t
x
2
2

vp =

k
d
vg =

k dk
Beat pattern
8

Superposition of two plane waves resulting in Beats:

Beat pattern
9

Wave packet

10

Group and Phase Velocities

Consider two plane waves having same or comparable
amplitudes but different frequencies:

E1 = E0 cos ( k1 z 1t )

E2 = E0 cos ( k2 z 2t )
Superposition of these waves traveling together in a given
medium is

ER = E1 + E2 = E0 cos ( k1 z 1t ) + cos ( k2 z 2t )
Using

1
1
cos + cos = 2 cos ( + ) cos ( )
2
2

k + k + 2
k1 k2 1 2
ER = 2 E0 cos 1 2 z 1
t

cos

z
t

2 2
2 2

Let
+ 2
p = 1
2

k1 + k2
kp =
2

g =

1 2
2

k1 k2
kg =
2

ER = 2 E0 cos ( k p z p t ) cos ( k g z g t )

Then

Product of two cosine waves having frequencies p

and g and wave propagation constants k p and k g .
The resultant of waves E1 and E2
is shown in figure:
The velocity of higher frequency
wave is called the phase velocity:

vp =

p
kp

1 + 2
k1 + k2

1 2

d
=

The velocity of the envelope wave is vg =

kg
k1 k2
dk
called the group velocity:

Group velocity determines the speed with which energy

is transmitted.
Its application is in the phenomenon of dispersion. Due to
dispersion, light components of different wavelengths
travel with different speeds through a refractive medium.
Relation between phase and group velocities:

dv p
d d (kv p )
vg =
=
= vp + k
dk
dk
dk
In non-dispersive medium, velocity of a wave does not
depend on wavelength, therefore

dv p
dk

=0

and hence

vg = v p

In a dispersive medium, refractive index is a

function of wavelength:

c
vp =
n( k )

dv p

v p dn
c dn
= 2
=
dk
n dk
n dk

kv p dn
k dn
dn
= v p 1 = v p 1 +
vg = v p

n dk
n dk
n d
Group velocity determines the speed with which energy
is transmitted.
+
Discussion in the Class on the origin of frequency
dependence of permittivity (and refractive index) that is
responsible for DISPERSION.