3.II.17G

Electromagnetism
Part IB, 2006

Write down Maxwell's equations in vacuo and show that they admit plane wave solutions in which

E(x,t)=Re(E0ei(ωtkx)),kE0=0,\mathbf{E}(\mathbf{x}, t)=\operatorname{Re}\left(\mathbf{E}_{0} e^{i(\omega t-\mathbf{k} \cdot \mathbf{x})}\right), \quad \mathbf{k} \cdot \mathbf{E}_{0}=0,

where E0\mathbf{E}_{0} and k\mathbf{k} are constant vectors. Find the corresponding magnetic field B(x,t)\mathbf{B}(\mathbf{x}, t) and the relationship between ω\omega and k\mathbf{k}.

Write down the relations giving the discontinuities (if any) in the normal and tangential components of E\mathbf{E} and B\mathbf{B} across a surface z=0z=0 which carries surface charge density σ\sigma and surface current density j\mathbf{j}.

Suppose that a perfect conductor occupies the region z<0z<0, and that a plane wave with k=(0,0,k),E0=(E0,0,0)\mathbf{k}=(0,0,-k), \mathbf{E}_{0}=\left(E_{0}, 0,0\right) is incident from the vacuum region z>0z>0. Show that the boundary conditions at z=0z=0 can be satisfied if a suitable reflected wave is present, and find the induced surface charge and surface current densities.