Verweij M.D., van den Berg P.M., Blok H. Electromagnetic Waves - An Introductory Course

VSSD, 2006. — 262 p. — ISBN: 90-407-1836-9.The course ”Electromagnetic Waves” offers an introduction in the theoretical concepts of electromagnetic waves. This course book contains the
basic material on time-varying wavefields and their applications in electrical engineering, e.g., electromagnetic compatibility, communication and remote sensing. A prerequisite to this course is a standard course ”Electricity and Magnetism” where, from experimental laws, the Maxwell equations for time-varying electromagnetic fields are formulated as a system of partial differential equations.
Chapter 1 reviews the necessary mathematical background, while Chapter 2 introduces the fundamental mathematical equations: the Maxwell equations, the constitutive relations and boundary conditions. The main line of the course is the construction of solutions to these equations in some simple configurations. The concept of an electromagnetic wave is introduced in Chapter 3, where one-dimensional waves are discussed. A wave phenomenon can only be understood in connection with an electromagnetic source that generates a wave. For the excitation of one-dimensional waves, the planarelectric-current sheet is chosen. As a simple example of one-dimensional wave propagation, the parallel-plate waveguide is discussed shortly. In Chapter 4, the two-dimensional waves are studied, in particular specific properties as interference, Fresnel reflection/transmission factors, Brewster’s angle and total reflection are treated. In Chapter 5, the consequences of a weakly inhomogeneous
medium are discussed and the theory of electromagnetic rays is introduced. Further, in Chapters 6 and 7, the theory of transmission lines and electromagnetic waveguides is treated. In view of communication applications, the closed parallel-plate waveguide and the open dielectric-slab waveguide are described in full detail. Finally, Chapter 8 deals with the excitation of two-dimensional waves and the concept of the far-field approximation is introduced.
The student who has successfully completed the present introductory course on electromagnetic waves, has learned the basic concepts of electromagnetic wave propagation. By simplifying the problems in such a way that a description in terms of one-dimensional and two-dimensional waves suffices, more attention can be given to the physical understanding of the propagation phenomena. However, it is stressed that in more realistic configurations of present-day technology, a full three-dimensional description of electromagnetic wavefields is needed. In this context, it is noted that the methodology of handling the radiation and scattering of electromagnetic waves in three-dimensional configurations will be treated in more advanced courses of the electrical engineering curriculum.
The authors acknowledge Dr. E. C. Slob for compiling the original set of exercises, problems and answers; Dr. M. D. Verweij for contributing to the
material of Chapters 4 and 5, revising the exercises, problems and answers, and preparing the final print version; and Mr. K. F. I. Haak for re-checking the answers.