Poynting Vector and Poynting Theorem

Poynting Vector:

The rate of flow of electromagnetic energy per unit area per unit time (i.e. energy flux density or power flow of an electromagnetic field) is known as Poynting vector. It is represented by $\overrightarrow{S}$. It is a vector quantity.

$\overrightarrow{S}= \frac{Energy \: flow}{Area \times Time}$

$\overrightarrow{S}= \frac{Power Flow}{Area}$

Vector formula form of Poynting Vector:

$\overrightarrow{S}=\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H}$

$\overrightarrow{S}=\frac{1} {\mu_{0}} (\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{B})$

Unit: $Watt/m^{2}$ Or $\frac{Kg}{s^{3}}$

Poynting Theorem (Work energy theorem):

The most important aspect of electrodynamics is:

• Energy density stored with an electromagnetic wave
• Energy Flux associated with an electromagnetic wave

To derive the energy density and energy flux. We consider the conservation of energy in small volume elements in space. The work done per unit volume by an electromagnetic wave:

$W=\overrightarrow{J}.\overrightarrow{E} \qquad(1)$

This work done also consider as energy dissipation per unit volume. This energy dissipation must be connected with the net decrease in energy density and energy flow out of the volume. According to Modified Maxwell's Forth equation:

$\overrightarrow{\nabla} \times \overrightarrow{H} = \overrightarrow{J} + \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{D} }{\partial t}$

$\overrightarrow{J} = \overrightarrow{\nabla} \times \overrightarrow{H} - \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{D} }{\partial t} \qquad (2)$

Now subtitute the value of $\overrightarrow{J}$ in equation $(1)$. Therefore we get

$W=\overrightarrow{E}.\left( \overrightarrow{\nabla} \times \overrightarrow{H} - \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{D} }{\partial t}\right) \qquad(3) $

Now we employ the vector identity

$\overrightarrow{\nabla}. (\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H})= \overrightarrow{H} (\overrightarrow{\nabla} \times \overrightarrow{E})-\overrightarrow{E}.(\overrightarrow{\nabla} \times \overrightarrow{H})$

$\overrightarrow{E}.(\overrightarrow{\nabla} \times \overrightarrow{H}) = \overrightarrow{H} (\overrightarrow{\nabla} \times \overrightarrow{E})-\overrightarrow{\nabla}. (\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H})\qquad (4)$

From equation $(3)$ and equation $(4)$

$ W= \overrightarrow{H} (\overrightarrow{\nabla} \times \overrightarrow{E})-\overrightarrow{\nabla}.(\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H}) - \overrightarrow{E} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{D} }{\partial t}\right) $

$ W= \overrightarrow{H} \left( \frac{-\partial \overrightarrow{B} }{\partial t}\right)-\overrightarrow{\nabla}.(\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H}) - \overrightarrow{E} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{D} }{\partial t}\right) $

$ W= -\overrightarrow{\nabla}.(\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H}) -\overrightarrow{H} \left( \frac{-\partial \overrightarrow{B} }{\partial t}\right) - \overrightarrow{E} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{D} }{\partial t}\right) $

$ W= -\overrightarrow{\nabla}.(\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H}) -\frac{1}{2}\left [2 \overrightarrow{H} \left( \frac{-\partial \overrightarrow{B} }{\partial t}\right) + 2 \overrightarrow{E} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{D} }{\partial t}\right) \right] $

$ W= -\overrightarrow{\nabla}.(\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H}) -\frac{1}{2}\left [ \overrightarrow{H} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{B} }{\partial t}\right)+\overrightarrow{H} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{B} }{\partial t}\right) + \overrightarrow{E} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{D} }{\partial t}\right)+ \overrightarrow{E} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{D} }{\partial t}\right) \right] $

Put $B=\mu H$ and $D=\epsilon E$ in the above equation

$ W= -\overrightarrow{\nabla}.(\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H}) -\frac{1}{2}\left [ \overrightarrow{H} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{B} }{\partial t}\right)+\frac{\overrightarrow{B}}{\mu} \left( \frac{\partial \left(\mu \overrightarrow{H}\right) }{\partial t}\right) + \overrightarrow{E} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{D} }{\partial t}\right)+ \frac{\overrightarrow{D}}{\epsilon} \left( \frac{\partial \left( \epsilon \overrightarrow{E}\right) }{\partial t}\right) \right] $

$ W= -\overrightarrow{\nabla}.(\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H}) -\frac{1}{2}\left [ \overrightarrow{H} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{B} }{\partial t}\right)+\overrightarrow{B} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{H} }{\partial t}\right) + \overrightarrow{E} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{D} }{\partial t}\right)+ \overrightarrow{D} \left( \frac{\partial \overrightarrow{E} }{\partial t}\right) \right] $

$ W= -\overrightarrow{\nabla}.(\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H}) -\frac{1}{2}\left [ \frac{ \partial \left(\overrightarrow{B}.\overrightarrow{H}\right) }{\partial t} + \frac{ \partial \left( \overrightarrow{E}.\overrightarrow{D}\right) }{\partial t} \right] $

$ W= -\overrightarrow{\nabla}.(\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H}) - \frac{1}{2} \frac{\partial}{\partial t} \left( \overrightarrow{H}.\overrightarrow{B}+\overrightarrow{E}.\overrightarrow{D} \right) $

$ JE= -\overrightarrow{\nabla}.(\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H}) - \frac{\partial}{\partial t} \left( \frac{\overrightarrow{H}.\overrightarrow{B}+\overrightarrow{E}.\overrightarrow{D} }{2} \right) \qquad \left( \because W= \overrightarrow{J}.\overrightarrow{E} \right) $

$ -JE= \overrightarrow{\nabla}.\overrightarrow{S} + \frac{\partial}{\partial t} \left( \frac{\overrightarrow{H}.\overrightarrow{B}+\overrightarrow{E}.\overrightarrow{D} }{2} \right) \qquad (\because \overrightarrow{S}= \overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H})$

$ -JE= \overrightarrow{\nabla}.\overrightarrow{S} + \frac{\partial U}{\partial t} \qquad \left( \because U = \frac{\overrightarrow{H}.\overrightarrow{B}+\overrightarrow{E}.\overrightarrow{D} }{2} \right) $

$ \overrightarrow{\nabla}.\overrightarrow{S} + \frac{\partial U}{\partial t} =-JE $

This equation represents the conservation of energy principle. It is also known as Poynting theorem. Here Negative signs of work done to represent that electromagnetic flow with energy flux as continuity energy density. So this equation is also known as the continuity equation.

Where

$ \overrightarrow{\nabla}.\overrightarrow{S}$ $\rightarrow$ The flow of energy

$U$ $\rightarrow$ Energy density of electromagnetic filed

$S$ $\rightarrow$ Energy flux or Poyting vector

If Current density $\overrightarrow{J}=0$ Then

$ \overrightarrow{\nabla}.\overrightarrow{S} + \frac{\partial U}{\partial t} = 0 $

$ \overrightarrow{\nabla}.\overrightarrow{S} = \frac{\partial U}{\partial t} $

$ \overrightarrow{\nabla}.\overrightarrow{S} = \frac{\partial }{\partial t} (Storage \: energy) $

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Special Relativity- MCQ

Special Relativity- MCQ

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Characteristic impedance of electromagnetic wave

We know that the electromagnetic wave propagates perpendicular to both electric field and magnetic field which can describe as

$\overrightarrow{k} \times \overrightarrow{E}= \omega \overrightarrow{B} \qquad(1)$

If $\hat{n}$ is a unit vector in the direction of the propagation then

$\overrightarrow{k}=k \hat{n}$

Substitute these values in equation$(1)$ then we get

$k(\hat{n} \times \overrightarrow{E})= \omega \overrightarrow{B}$

$\overrightarrow{B}= \frac{k}{\omega}(\hat{n} \times \overrightarrow{E}) \qquad(2)$

But the value of $k$ and $\omega$ is

$k=\frac{2\pi}{\lambda}$

$\omega=2 \pi \nu$

Then value of $\frac{k}{\omega}=\frac{1}{c}$

Now substitute the value of $\frac{k}{\omega}$ in equation$(2)$ then we get

$\overrightarrow{B}= \frac{1}{c}(\hat{n} \times \overrightarrow{E})$

The magnitude form of the above equation can be written as

$B=\frac{E}{c}$

$\frac{E}{B}=c$

$\frac{E}{\mu_{0}H}=c \qquad (\because B=\mu_{0} H)$

$\frac{E}{H}=\mu_{0}c$

$\frac{E}{H}=\frac{\mu_{0}}{\sqrt{\mu_{0} \epsilon_{0}}} \qquad(\because c=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\mu_{0} \epsilon_{0}}})$

$\frac{E}{H}= \sqrt{\frac{\mu_{0}}{\epsilon_{0}}}$

The term $\frac{E}{H}$ has dimensions of the impedance and is known as characteristic impedance or intrinsic impedance of free space. It is represented by $(Z_{0})$.

$Z_{0}=\frac{E}{H}=\sqrt{\frac{\mu_{0}}{\epsilon_{0}}}$

Now substitute the value of $\mu_{0}$ and $\epsilon_{0}$ i.e.

$\mu_{0}=4\pi \times 10^{-7}$

$\epsilon_{0}=8.854 \times 10^{-12}$

$Z_{0}=\sqrt{\frac{4\pi \times 10^{-7}}{8.854 \times 10^{-12}}}$

$Z_{0}=376.73\: \Omega $

$Z_{0}=120\pi \: \Omega $

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Radiation pressure of electromagnetic wave

When an electromagnetic wave strikes a surface then its momentum changes. the rate of change of momentum is equal to the applied force. this force acting on the unit area of the surface exerts a pressure called radiation pressure$(P_{rad})$.

Let us consider a plane electromagnetic wave incident normally on a perfectly absorbing surface of area $A$ for a time $t$. If energy $U$ is absorbed during this time then momentum $P$ delivered to the surface is given according to Maxwell's prediction by

$P=\frac{U}{C} \qquad(1)$

If $S$ is the energy flow per unit area per unit time i.e. Poynting vector then the energy density

$U=SAt \qquad(2)$

From equation $(1)$ and equation $(2)$

$P=\frac{SAt}{c}$

$P=UAt \qquad (\because U=\frac{S}{c})$

$\frac{P}{t}=UA \qquad (3)$

If average force $(F)$ acting on the surface, is equal to the average rate of change of momentum $(P)$, is delivered to the surface then

$F=\frac{P}{t} \qquad(4)$

Now from equation$(3)$ and equation$(4)$ we get

$F=UA \qquad(5)$

The radiation pressure $(P_{rad})$ exerted on the surface is

$P_{rad}=\frac{F}{A} \qquad(6)$

Now substitute the value of $F$ from equation$(5)$ in equation$(6)$ then we get

$P_{rad}=\frac{UA}{A}$

$P_{rad}=U$

Hence, the radiation pressure exerted by a normally incident play electromagnetic wave on a perfect absorber is equal to the energy density of the wave.

For a perfect reflector or for a perfect reflecting surface, the radiation after reflection has momentum equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the incident radiation. Then the momentum imparted to the surface will therefore be twice as on perfect absorber i.e.

$P_{rad}=2U$

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Physical interpretation of the wave function

We have assumed that the wave associated with a particle in motion is represented by a complex variable quantity called the wave function $\psi(x,t)$. Therefore, it can not have a direct physical meaning. Since it is a complex quantity, it may be expressed as

$\psi(x,y,z,t)=a+ib \qquad(1)$

Where $a$ and $b$ are real functions of the variable $(x,y,z,t)$. The complex conjugate of wave function $\psi(x,y,z,t)$

$\psi^{*}(x,y,z,t)=a-ib \qquad(2)$

Multiply equation $(1)$ and equation $(2)$

$\psi(x,y,z,t).\psi^{*}(x,y,z,t)=a^{2}+b^{2} \qquad(3)$

$ \left| \psi(x,y,z,t) \right|^{2}=a^{2}+b^{2} \qquad(4)$

If $\psi \neq 0$ Then the product of $\psi$ and $\psi^{*}$ is real and positive. Its positive square root is denoted by $\left|\psi(x,y,z,t) \right|$, and it is called the modulus of $\psi$.

The quantity $ \left| \psi(x,y,z,t) \right|^{2}$ is called the probability density $(P)$. So for the motion of a particle, the probability of finding the particle in the region $d\tau$ will be:

$\int {P d\tau}= \int {\psi(x,y,z,t).\psi^{*}(x,y,z,t).d\tau}=\int {\left| \psi(x,y,z,t) \right|^{2}d\tau}$

Here $P$ are the probability that tells us that the particle will be found in a volume element $d\tau(=dx.dy.dz)$ surrounding the point at position $(x,y,z)$ at time $t$.

For the motion of a particle in one dimension, the probability of finding the particle in the region $dx$ will be:

$\int{P dx}= \int {\psi(x,t).\psi^{*}(x,t).dx}=\int {\left| \psi(x,t) \right|^{2}dx}$

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Energy flow in the electromagnetic wave in free space

Derivation of energy flow in the electromagnetic wave in free space:

The Poynting vector is given by

$\overrightarrow{S}=\overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{H} \qquad(1)$

$\overrightarrow{S}=\frac{1}{\mu_{0}} ( \overrightarrow{E} \times \overrightarrow{B} ) \qquad(2) \qquad (\because \overrightarrow{B}= \mu_{0} \overrightarrow{H})$

We know that the characteristic impedance equation i.e.

$\overrightarrow{B}=\frac{1}{\mu_{0}c}(\hat{n} \times \overrightarrow{E}) \qquad(3)$

Now substitute the value of $\overrightarrow{B}$ in equation$(2)$

$\overrightarrow{S}=\frac{1}{\mu_{0}c} [\overrightarrow{E} \times (\hat{n} \times \overrightarrow{E})]$

$\overrightarrow{S}=\frac{1}{\mu_{0}c} [(\overrightarrow{E}.\overrightarrow{E}) \hat{n}- (\overrightarrow{E}.\hat{n}) \overrightarrow{E})] \qquad(4)$

As $\overrightarrow{E}$ is perpendicular to $\hat{n}$ so $\overrightarrow{E} . \hat{n}=0$ then we get for above equation$(4)$

$\overrightarrow{S}=\frac{1}{\mu_{0}c} E^{2} \hat{n}$

From the above equation, we can conclude $\overrightarrow{S}$ has the same direction as $\hat{n}$ which is the direction of wave propagation.

Energy flow in an electromagnetic wave takes place in the direction of the propagation of the wave.

Here $\mu_{0} c=Z_{0}$ (The Characteristic impedance of free space)

$\overrightarrow{S}=\frac{1}{Z_{0}} E^{2} \hat{n}$

This is the equation of energy flow in the electromagnetic wave in free space.

The average energy flow over one period of the electromagnetic wave in free space:

Now the average energy flow of the above equation

$ \left< \overrightarrow{S} \right> =\frac{1}{Z_{0}} \left< E^{2} \right> \hat{n} \qquad(5)$

We know the electric field vector wave equation i.e. $\overrightarrow{E}=E_{0} e^{i(\overrightarrow{k}. \overrightarrow{r} -\omega t)} $

So the value of $\left< E^{2} \right>$ from above equation:

$\left< E^{2} \right>= \left< Re[E_{0} e^{i(\overrightarrow{k}. \overrightarrow{r} -\omega t)}]^{2} \right>$

$\left< E^{2} \right>= \left< E_{0}^{2}\: cos^{2}(\overrightarrow{k}. \overrightarrow{r} -\omega t) \right>$

For one period or cycle of electromagnetic wave the value of $cos^{2}(\overrightarrow{k}. \overrightarrow{r} -\omega t)=\frac{1}{2}$ then we get

$\left< E^{2} \right>= \frac{E_{0}^{2}}{2}$

$\left< E^{2} \right>= (\frac{E_{0}}{2})^{2}$

$\left< E^{2} \right>= E_{rms}^{2} \qquad \left (\because E_{rms} = \frac{E_{0}}{2}\right )$

Now substitute the value of $ \left< E^{2} \right>$ in equation $(5)$ then we get

$ \left< \overrightarrow{S} \right> =\frac{E_{rms}^{2}}{Z_{0}} \hat{n} $

This average energy flow equation over one period of the electromagnetic wave in free space.

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