(i) A plane electromagnetic wave has electric and magnetic fields
E=E0ei(k⋅r−ωt),B=B0ei(k⋅r−ωt)
for constant vectors E0,B0, constant positive angular frequency ω and constant wavevector k. Write down the vacuum Maxwell equations and show that they imply
k⋅E0=0,k⋅B0=0,ωB0=k×E0
Show also that ∣k∣=ω/c, where c is the speed of light.
(ii) State the boundary conditions on E and B at the surface S of a perfect conductor. Let σ be the surface charge density and s the surface current density on S. How are σ and s related to E and B ?
A plane electromagnetic wave is incident from the half-space x<0 upon the surface x=0 of a perfectly conducting medium in x>0. Given that the electric and magnetic fields of the incident wave take the form (∗) with
k=k(cosθ,sinθ,0)(0<θ<π/2)
and
E0=λ(−sinθ,cosθ,0),
find B0.
Reflection of the incident wave at x=0 produces a reflected wave with electric field
E0′ei(k′⋅r−ωt)
with
k′=k(−cosθ,sinθ,0)
By considering the boundary conditions at x=0 on the total electric field, show that
E0′=−λ(sinθ,cosθ,0)
Show further that the electric charge density on the surface x=0 takes the form
σ=σ0eik(ysinθ−ct)
for a constant σ0 that you should determine. Find the magnetic field of the reflected wave and hence the surface current density s on the surface x=0.