198 CHAPTER 9.

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

It follows that the electromagnetic waves in vacuum are transverse waves,

i.e. that the fields E and B are perpendicular to the propagation vector, and
in addition the fields are orthogonal to each other, as illustrated in Fig. 9.1.
We infer from the first two of the four relations (9.6) by scalar multiplication
by E and B the important (but not universally valid) consequence that

1
-/El2 = /BI2
C2

Fig. 9.1 The phase plane I vector of propagation.

The vector Eo in the expression E = Eoei(k'r--wt) defines the direction of

oscillation. If Eo is constant in time one says, the wave is linearly polarised.
The transport of energy per unit area (cf. the Poynting vector) takes place
in the direction of the propagation vector k cx E x B.
We let €1 and €2 be unit vectors, called polarisation vectors, which span
the plane orthogonal to k. Then, in a general case,

with (i = 1,2)

Since E I B, it suffices and is convenient, to consider the vector E as a

representative of the entire wave. El, Ez have different phases, if we permit
E l , E2 to be complex, i.e.