FILE (SILVER) D:\TEACHING\L5EMT&RFID10\PART9(OTHERNOTESTEXT)\
MONICA’SUNIFORM PLANEWAVES.DOC
A SUMMMARY OF UNIFORM PLANE WAVE PROPERTIES PREPARD BY
MONICA CHUNG
Below is a summary of uniform plane electromagnetic wave properties prepared by a
former student Monica Chung. Monica has chosen her own fonts for her exposition, and
while they differ somewhat from the fonts used in the remainder of the notes, I have not
thought fit to change them. Her summary of the essential ideas is admirable.
THE STORY SO FAR…
UNIFORM PLANE WAVES
1. In a region free of charges and currents, Maxwell’s equations are linear,
homogenous, first order, partial differential equations in six variables.
2. We can reduce the number of variables by substituting one equation into
another.
3. The result is a linear, homogenous, second order partial differential
equation.
4. We expect two independent solutions.
5. Many different examples of two independent solutions exist.
6. The simplest examples are linearly polarised uniform plane waves.
7. Uniform plane waves are characterised by an e-j r spatial variation.
8. These are planes of constant phase and these are perpendicular to .
9. The amplitude is constant everywhere.
10. We normally put the z-axis along .
11. Two simple independent solutions are
 E along x, H along y,  along z
 E along y, H along x,  along z.
In both cases the vectors E, H,  taken in that order, form a right hand
system of mutually orthogonal vectors.
12. E and H are in time phase.
13. The ratio of E to H is real and its a constant =  = (/)  120  
377 in free space.
14. As always real E = Re{Eejt}
15. The velocity of waves: v = 1/()  3 x 108 m/s in free space.
16. The time average power flow for unit area:
< n > = Re{S} = {0.5 E x H* } = |E|2/(2) = (|H|2 )/2
with compliments,
Monica Chung
c.