Unit 5

Unit 5

Unit 1 • Unit 2 • Unit 3 • Unit 4 • Unit 5 • Unit 6 • Unit 7 • Unit 8

Electromagnetic Waves in Dielectrics and Conductors, Polarization, Interfaces

October 26 to November 13

You should review the notes and videos below by November 12.
Your response to Discussion Question 5.1 is due Tuesday, October 27, at 5pm
Your solutions to Problem Set 8 are due Thursday, November 5, at 5pm
Your response to Discussion Question 5.3 is due Tuesday, November 17, at 5pm
Your solutions to Problem Set 9 are due Thursday, November 19, at 5pm

In this unit we will discuss the propagation of electromagnetic waves in different types of materials, specifically dielectrics and conductors. We will discuss how the frequency dependent dielectric function and the frequency dependent conductivity give diverse behaviors for such waves as frequency varies. We will consider the polarization of the fields in such waves, discussion linear, circular, and elliptical modes of polarization. We will discuss what happens when an electromagnetic wave hits an interface between two different materials, finding the directions and amplitudes of the reflected and transmitted waves. Finally we discuss the Kramers-Kronig relation.

Below is a llist of links to the course notes for each topic in this unit, follwed by links to recorded video lectures. Following these topic-links are links to the unit Discussion Boards and the unit Problem Sets.

Notes and Video Lectures

Notes 5-1 - Electromagnetic wave propagation in dielectrics, frequency dependent atomic polarizability
Notes 5-2 - Transparent propagation, resonant absorption, total reflection
- Video 5-2.1 - Transparent propagation, resonant absorption, total reflection [66 min]
Notes 5-3 - Electromagnetic wave propagation in conductors, frequency dependent conductivity
- Video 5-3.1 - Frequency dependent conductivity [29 min]
- Video 5-3.2 - Waves in conductors, low and high frequency limits [29 min]
- Video 5-3.3 - Longitudinal modes in conductors [19 min]
Notes 5-4 - Linear, circular, and elliptical polarization of electromagnetic waves
- Video 5-4.1 - Polarization of electromagnetic waves [49 min]
Notes 5-5 - Reflection and transmission of electromagnetic waves at interfaces
- Video 5-5.1 - Snell's law, total internal reflection [32 min]
- Video 5-5.2 - Snell's law for non-transparent media [46 min]
- Video 5-5.3 - Coefficient of reflection [41 min]
Notes 5-5-supp - Supplemental: Total internal reflection revisited
Notes 5-6 - The Kramers-Kronig relation
- Video 5-6.1 - The Kramers-Kronig relation [15 min]

Discussion Board for Unit 5
Use this link to post questions regarding the material in Unit 5. Questions and replies will be viewable by the entire class. To post a question, click on the Create Thread link on the top of the Disussion Board page. To get an email message whenever someone makes a post, click on the Subscribe link on the top of the Discussion Board page.

Discussion Question 5.1 - Due Tuesday, October 27, at 5pm
In the Notes 5-1 you will find Discussion uestion 5.1. Use this link to post your brief response to this question. You may view responses only after you have posted your own response. To post your response, click on the Create Thread link on the top of the Discussion Board page.

Discussion Question 5.3 - Due Tuesday, November 17, at 5pm
In the Notes 5-3 you will find Discussion Question 5.3. Use this link to post your brief response to this question. You may view responses only after you have posted your own response. To post your response, click on the Create Thread link on the top of the Discussion Board page.

Problem Set 8 - Due Thurday, November 5, at 5pm
You must scan or take a photo of your solutions, collate them into a single multi-page pdf file, and upload it to Blackboard using this link.

Problem Set 9 - Due Thursday, November 19, at 5pm
You must scan or take a photo of your solutions, collate them into a single multi-page pdf file, and upload it to Blackboard using this link.