UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof.

Steven Errede

LECTURE NOTES 8
A More Sophisticated Treatment of EM Wave Propagation in Conducting Media
In the previous P436 Lecture Notes 7, we discussed the propagation of EM waves in

conducting media (e.g. metals), taking into account Ohms Law J r , t C E r , t and the

continuity equation J r , t free r , t t in the conductor.

However, this treatment of conducting media neglected certain inertial effects associated
with the finite mass of free / conduction electrons in the metal conductor we need to consider
more carefully the actual motion of the free / conduction electrons in the conductor, and their
response e.g. to the application of a monochromatic plane EM wave of angular frequency .
Since the free / conduction electrons in a metal are not bound to individual atoms in a
conductor, there are no elastic restoring forces acting on the free / conduction electrons
{i.e. spring constant ke 0 }, as there was in the case of the polarization of bound atomic
electrons, e.g. in a dispersive, linear non-conducting medium. Thus, the differential equation
describing the motion of the free / conduction electrons in a metal is of the general form:

dv r , t
me me v r , t 0r t eE r , t Fe r , t
dt

where the driving force Fe r , t eE r , t = the charge of the electron e times the electric

field E r , t of the monochromatic plane EM wave propagating in the conducting metal.

Thus, we obtain a first-order inhomogeneous differential equation of the form:

dv r , t
me me v r , t eE r , t
dt
n.b. here again, we neglect the effects of the magnetic Lorentz force term,

FLorentz r , t ev r , t B r , t eE r , t because: v v vD v prop .

Note also that me = mass of the free /conduction electron in the metal conductor which,
depending on the microscopic/quantum mechanical details of the conductor is {often} not equal
to the mass of a {truly free, isolated} electron me 9.11031kg , but {often} me ~ me .

The quantity me is known as the frictional / Joule dissipation constant, associated with
electron energy / momentum losses i.e. free /conduction electron scattering losses in the
conductor. The damping constant {n.b. units of angular frequency (radians/sec)} is associated
with dissipative/ energy loss mechanism(s) of the motion of free / conduction electrons in the
metal free / conduction electrons scattering off of each other, off of atoms, lattice vibrations,
crystal defects and impurities in real metals. Thus, we can also define a relaxation time constant
relax 1 associated with the free / conduction electrons present in the metal conductor.

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

The free current density in the metal conductor is J free r , t ne ev r , t {Amps/m2}, where:
nef free / conduction electron number density in the metal conductor {#/unit volume = #/m3}.
q e the electric charge of free / conduction electrons {Coulombs}.

v r , t vD = the drift velocity c of free / conduction electrons in metal at r , t {m/s}.
{e.g. vDCu ~ 80 m sec in copper.}

dv r , t
Thus: m
e me v r , t eE r , t multiply through by ne e :
dt

dv r , t
ne eme
f
nef eme v r , t nef e 2 E r , t
dt

dv r , t f

me nef e me ne ev r , t ne e E r , t
f 2

dt

d
me nef ev r , t me nef ev r , t nef e 2 E r , t
dt


dJ r , t dJ free r , t
n f e2

me J free r , t ne e E r , t or:

J free r , t e E r , t
free
me f 2

dt dt me

which is also a first-order linear, inhomogeneous differential equation.

Recall that the solution to an inhomogeneous differential equation is the sum of the solution to
the corresponding homogeneous differential equation, plus a particular solution satisfying the
inhomogeneous differential equation. Thus, we first need to obtain the solution to the homogeneous

differential equation, i.e. when no EM waves are present in the conducting material, vis. E r , t 0 .

a.) If E r , t 0 , the general solution to the first-order linear, homogeneous differential equation:

dJ free r , t
J free r , t 0
dt
is of the form of a damped exponential (because > 0):

J free r , t J o free r e t J o free r et relax where: relax 1 sec

Transient free current(s) will decay to 1 e e1 0.368 of their initial t = 0 value ( J o free r )
in a characteristic relaxation time t relax 1 sec .

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

Using the continuity equation J free r , t free r , t t {expressing conservation of

free electric charge} in the above homogeneous equation, with E r , t 0 :

d n f e2
J free r , t J free r , t e E r , t
dt me
0

free r , t
2
free r , t
0
t 2 t

2 free r , t free r , t free r , t
thus: 0 free r , t 0
t 2
t t

free r , t o free r e t o free r e t relax .

But from P436 Lecture Notes 7, p. 1 we also obtained the relation free r , t o free r e C t .
Thus, comparing these two equations we see that: C 1 relax .

b.) For a static non-zero electric field E r Eo , then this static problem can have no explicit

time dependence, hence dJ free r , t dt 0 and thus the first-order linear, inhomogeneous
equation becomes:

nef e 2 nef e 2 nef e 2 nef e 2

J free r
E r oE constant or: J r E r Eo constant
me me
free
me me

free r
The static / DC continuity equation for free charge is: J free r 0
t

with static solution(s): J free r constant fcn r ,{ort} and: free r fcn t .

However, Ohms Law (for DC / steady free electric currents) is: J free r C E r where:
C the static conductivity of the metal (Siemens/m) 1 C 1/ static resistivity ( -m ).

n f e2 n f e2
Thus, we see here that: J free r e E r C E r i.e. the static conductivity C e
me me

1 m
or equivalently, the static resistivity: C fe 2 . {n.b. both purely real quantities}
C ne e

C m
The static / DC resistance e.g. of a long wire is thus: R fe 2 Ohms
A ne e A
{again, a purely real quantity}

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

c.) For a harmonically time-dependent {in general, complex} electric field (e.g. associated with a
monochromatic EM plane wave (or an AC current, using Ohms law), with angular frequency 2 f :

it dJ free r , t n f e 2
E r , t Eo r e and: J free r , t e E r , t
dt me
We assume that the {in general, complex} free current density solution to this linear

inhomogeneous first-order differential equation is of the general form: J free r , t J o free r e it .

Then the solution to this linear, inhomogeneous first-order differential equation is:

nef e 2 nef e 2 nef e 2

i J free r , t E r , t E r , t C E r , t since: C
me me me
C C C
J free r , t E r , t E r , t E r , t C E r , t
i i 1 i /
Where:
ne e me
f 2
C
The AC conductivity: C n.b. complex quantity
1 i / 1 i /
1 me
The AC resistivity: C C 1 i / f 2 1 i / complex quantity
C ne e

Thus, we see that the {complex} AC resistance (aka impedance, Z) e.g. of a long wire is:
C me
Z R AC C 1 i / f 2 1 i / n.b. complex quantity
A A ne e A
n.b. Can hear the effect of complex R AC in {audiophile-type} hi-fi stereo systems
by comparing good (thick) vs. bad (thin/cheap) L & R loudspeaker cables!

free r , t free r , t Gauss
The AC continuity equation is: J free r , t with: E r , t
t Law

C nef e 2 me
But: J free r , t C E r , t
E r , t E r,t
1 i /
1 i /

C nef e 2 me
Thus: J free r , t C E r , t E r , t E r , t
1 i / 1 i /


free r , t C free r , t free r , t C
or: free r , t
t 1 i / t 1 i /

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

The solution to the above differential equation for the free electric charge volume density is of

the form: free r , t o r e it provided that:

free r , t C free C
free r , t i n.b. implies free free {complex!}
t 1 i / 1 i /

1 C C nef e 2 1
i.e. that: free but: C
i 1 i / 1 i / me 1 i /

C 1 C a connection between complex AC electric

Thus, we see that: free permittivity free() and complex AC
i i 1 i / conductivity C() in a metal / conductor.

Technically-speaking, this relation should be:

1 C
free o C o 1 C
o 1 1
free


i
i i
o
e

vacuum vacuum
o
vacuum

o

vacuum
metal
metal metal metal

because the vacuum pervades all space the conducting medium and the vacuum coexist in the
same region of space-time, invoking the superposition principle , the two electric permittivities
(n.b. both scalar quantities) are additive.
However, it can be seen that because the {DC} conductivity of metals is so high
{typically C ~ 107 Siemens/m }, that even for {angular} frequencies in the optical region
{ ~ 1016 radians/sec } the electric permittivity of free space, o is dwarfed by the second term,
i.e. o 8.85 1012 C i C i 1 i / Farads /m , so often the o term is
neglected/dropped in many textbooks... For technical correctness / completeness sake, we will
include it here. Thus, we see that even for metal conductors:

free 1 1 C 1 1 1 i /
1 C 1 1 C 1 efree
o i o i o 1 i / i o 1 / 2

1 C 1 C 1 1 1 i /
efree C
i o i o 1 i / i o 1 / 2

For pure copper metal at low frequencies, i.e. 0 , the static conductivity is CCu 6 107
Siemens/m; the number density of free electrons in pure copper metal is neCu 8.5 1028 /m3 and
using C nef e 2 me Cu neCu e 2 me CCu neCu e 2 me CCu 4 1013 sec 1 , which
corresponds to a relaxation time for free / conduction electrons in pure copper of
relax
Cu
1 Cu 2.5 1014 sec .

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

For Conducting Metals with Free Electrons: J free r , t C E r , t
Note that in the static limit ( 0):

E r , t Eo r e it Eo r static / constant J free C E

J free r , t J o free r e it J o free r static / constant J free free
t

free r , t o free
r eit o r
free
static / constant
C nef e 2
C C 1 static / constant C
1 i / C me
1
C C 1 i / C static / constant
C
C C C
free o o o singular !!!
i i 1 i / / i
In the previous P436 Lecture Notes 7.5 on dispersion in non-conducting, non-magnetic
linear / homogeneous / isotropic media, we showed / derived the complex electric permittivity
(due to bound atomic electrons) of the dielectric medium to be:

neb e2 n osc 12j 2 i j
bnd o 1
bnd
o 1 f j
o me j 1 2 2 2 2 2
e

1 j j

with: K ebnd bnd 1 ebnd and: n bnd o K ebnd 1 ebnd .
o
If only one / a single resonance exists, this relation reduces to:

neb e 2 1 i
2 2
neb e 2 kejb
1 o 1
with: 1 j 0 j 3 m and: 0 j m
2

o me 1
2 2
2 2 2
o e e

Comparing this expression to that for conducting media with free / conduction electrons:

C n f e2
free o with static conductivity: C e
/ i me
nef e 2 i
2
nef e 2 1 1 nef e 2 1
free o o 2 o 4
me / i me i me
2 2

nef e 2 0 i
2 2

or: free o 1 with: 0 0 a resonance @ 0 0 !

o me 0
2 2 2 2 2

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

Note that the sign in the above formula {relative to that for bound atomic electrons} arises because
of fact that free / conduction electrons in metal are not bound (i.e. phase shift of 180o @ f = 0 Hz).
Then for dispersive conducting media containing free electrons, Maxwells equations become:
C
1) D free E free 5) Ohms Law: J free C E
1 i
free
2) B 0 6) Continuity Equation: J free
t

B
3) E
t
Assume dispersive conducting
D E
4) B o J free o
t
o J free o free
t
medium is non-magnetic o
Again, we use the curl operator on equations 3) and 4) to obtain wave equation(s) for EM waves
propagating in a dispersive metal / conductor, e.g. for equation 3):

J free
2 E
E B o o free 2
t t t


E 2 E n2 1 here, for non-magnetic
E 2 E o C o free 2 and: 2 2 o free conductors o
t t c v

free 0 in t 1012 sec 1 ps for charge-equilibrated conductors.

1 2 E E C E
sec 1 ps we obtain: E 2 2 o C o
12 2
Thus, for times t 10
v t t 1 i t

Using equation 4) above, an identical wave equation is obtained for the magnetic field B r , t :

1 2 B B C B
B 2 2 o C
2
o
v t t 1 i t
Solutions to above wave equation(s) for monochromatic EM plane waves propagating in the
z direction in a dispersive conducting media with free electrons will be of the form e.g.
i kz t k i kz t
E r , t Eo e and: B r , t k E r , t Bo e .

Note that here {again} the wavenumber k is complex and frequency-dependent:

k k i with k e k 2 and m k {related to
absorption/dissipation of the EM wave as it propagates in the dispersive conductive medium.}

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

We can associate the complex wavenumber k with a complex index of refraction n :

c
k n or: n k where the complex index of refraction:
c

c c
n n i thus: n e n k and: m n .

i kz t
Plugging in the expression E r , t Eo e for monochromatic plane EM waves propagating
in a dispersive, non-magnetic conducting medium into the above wave equation, we obtain the
so-called characteristic equation for this situation {Exercise - explicitly work this out yourselves!}:
2
io C 1 n f e2 n f e2
k 2 with: c 2 and: C e or: e
c 1 i o o me me C

1 i
2
c
Then: n 2 k 2 = (complex index of refraction)2 n 2 1 i C
o 1
2

The Low Frequency Behavior of a Dispersive, Non-Magnetic Conducting Medium:

nef e 2 C
Definition of low frequency: 1 where: and: .
me C o

In this regime, the characteristic/mean/average time between successive collisions experienced

by the free / conduction electrons in the dispersive, non-magnetic conducting medium coll
is short in comparison to the oscillation period of EM waves 1 f 2 , i.e. coll .

2
io C io C keeping only
For 0 (but not 0 !): k 2 k 2 io C
c 1 i 1 terms linear in

1 i
Now note that: i 1 {Please work this out/derive this yourselves!}
2
o C
Thus for 0 i.e. 1 : k 2 io C k k i io C 1 i
2

From which we see immediately that for monochromatic plane EM waves propagating in a
o C
dispersive, non-magnetic conducting medium, that: k and thus here
2

{again} we see that the B -field lags the E -field by: k B E tan 1 tan 1 1 45o .
k 4

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

2
c
Similarly, for 0 i.e. 1 since: n k 2
2

2
c 2 c
2 1 i 1 i
Then:

n 2
k
i
o C i o C C . Using:
2
i
o o
o 2

i C C C
n n i 1 i which again implies that: n .
o 2 o 2 o
1 2 same as before,
Here again, we can define a low-frequency skin depth: sc
o C but with o

the characteristic distance that the E and B fields fall to 1 e e1 0.368 of their z = 0 values.

We define a low-frequency absorption coefficient: 2 2 sc 2 o C

C
and corresponding low-frequency extinction coefficient: 2
2 o

The characteristic distance over which the {time-averaged} EM wave energy density u r

and intensity I r fall to 1 e e1 0.368 of their initial (z = 0) values, respectively are:

z
uEM r uEM 0 e z and I r I 0 e c Since both are proportional to E2

For pure copper metal, for which Cu 4.11013 sec 1 and CCu 6 107 Siemens /m and thus
CCu o 6.5 1018 / sec , then for low frequencies, e.g. f 2 1012 Hz we see that pure
copper metal is in the low-frequency regime for vacuum wavelengths of:

c 3 108 2 o 2 f CCu
o 3 104 m 300 m cf w/ Cu f 2 106 m 1 m
f 1012
k f 2

In pure copper metal, the skin depth sc associated with monochromatic EM waves of
frequency f ~ 1012 Hz = 1 THz = 106 MHz is:

2 2
sccu f 1 THz , o 300 m 6.5 108 m 65 nm
o C 4 10 2 10 6 10
7 12 7

Thus at low frequencies, we see that:

10
sc
12

Hz 65 nm Cu 1012 Hz 1 m o 300 m

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

In pure copper metal, the skin depth sc associated with monochromatic EM waves of
frequency f ~ 1010 Hz = 10 GHz = 104 MHz (e.g. cell phones) {which corresponds to a vacuum
wavelength of o c f 3 108 1010 3 102 m 3 cm } is:

1 2 2
sccu 1010 Hz 6.5 107 m 650 nm
o C 4 10 2 10 6 10
7 10 7

The wavelength of EM waves with frequency f 1010 Hz propagating in the pure copper metal is:

2 o 2 f CCu
Cu f 2 105 m 10 m
k f 2
Thus at low frequencies, we {again} see that:

10
sc
10

Hz 650 nm Cu 1010 Hz 10 m o 3.0 cm
The High Frequency Behavior of a Dispersive, Non-Magnetic Conducting Medium:

n e2 C
Definition of high frequency: 1 where: e and: .
me C o

The square of the complex index of refraction for a metal is:

1 1 i
n 2 1 i C 1 i C
o 1 i o 1
2

At high frequencies, the free / conduction electrons in a metal will undergo a great many
oscillations before scattering i.e. the period of oscillations 1 f 2 is short compared
to the mean time between scatterings, essentially the relaxation time, relax 1 .

In the high-frequency regime, the volume charge density of free electrons and the lattice of
positive ions in metal together can be thought of as a plasma whose electron charge density
oscillates longitudinally { i.e. in the direction of propagation of the EM wave) at the {natural}
angular resonance frequency known as the plasma frequency, defined as:

nef e2
The plasma frequency in a metal/conductor: P (radians/sec) and: f P P Hz .
o me

2

PCu
For pure copper: PCu 1.644 1016 rad / sec f PCu 2.616 1015 Hz
2
c
The corresponding plasma wavelength in copper is: PCu Cu
1.147 107 m = 114.7 nm
f P

Operative in the optical UV portion of the EM spectrum typical for many metals !!!

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

We can rewrite the (complex index of refraction)2 in terms of the plasma frequency :

i C o n f e2 1 nef e 2 1 used:
n 2 1 1 i e 1
1 i o me 1 i o me i 1 i i 1

P2 i 1 i

P2 nef e 2 nef e 2 o nef e 2 P2

Thus: n 2 1 where: P and:


2
i o me me C C o me C o

Now: n 2 n i n i n 2 2in 2 with: e n 2 n 2 2 and: m n 2 2n

Equating the real and imaginary portions of n 2 n 2 2 i 2n use the following trick:

2 i 2 i i 1 i 1 i
2 2 2
1 1
2 2 2 2 2
2 i 2 i 2 i 4 2 2 2 2
2

P2 P2 1 i P2 P
2

n 1 2
2
1 1 2 2
i 2 2
n 2 2 i 2n
i
2 2




n 2 2 2 n

P2 P2
n 2 2 1 and: 2 n 2 2

2
2

P2
Now define: x and: x .
2
2

Then: n 2 2 1 x and: 2n x x x

2
x x x2 x2
Thus: n 1 x n
2 2 2
1 x or: n 1 x n x x 0
4 2

2n 4n 2 2
2

Define: x n , then: x 1 x x x x 0 which is a quadratic equation of the form:
2 2

2
2

ax 2 bx c 0 with: a = 1, b = 1 x and c = x x .
2
must select +ve root on physical grounds!

b b 2 4ac 1 x 1 x x2 x2
2

The solution is: x

2a 2

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

The Complex Index of Refraction: n n i

1
2
x P2
n x
x
2
1 1 x
2
1 x

2
2

1 1
2
x
n
x
where: 1 x
2
1 x

x nef e 2 nef e 2 P2
and: x where: P and:
2n o me me C C o

Typical plasma frequencies for free electrons in metals are: P 1016 rad / sec .

Typical -factors for free electrons in metals are: 1 relax 1013 1014 rad / sec .

Hence, in a typical metal/conductor we see that: P P relax ~ 102 -103 1 i.e. P .

Thus, at high frequencies P :

2
P2
Then: x P 1 and: x 1 at high frequencies.

2 2

2 2
P P
x x
2
P
And: 1
1x P
2
P
2

1 1

2 2
1
Then: n 1 x 1 P 1 P 1 {Using 1 1 12 for 1 }
2
2
P

x x
2
1
And: 1 at high frequencies.
2n 1 P 2 2
2 1
2

At high frequencies, for P the complex index of refraction n is predominantly real,

i.e. the imaginary part real part n at high frequencies.

Metals are transparent to -rays and x-rays for P !!!

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

Some {alkali} metals are transparent / begin to be transparent in the UV region of the EM spectrum!
c 2 c nef e 2
Metal P P
f P P o me
7
3 Li 155.0 nm
23
11 Na 209.0 nm
39
19 K 287.0 nm
63
29 Cu 114.7 nm
85
Alkali Metals 37 Rb 322.0 nm UV

Well above the plasma frequency P , then: k :

k B tan 1 0 for P
k

B is {nearly} in-phase with E for EM waves propagating in metals/conductors with frequency
well above the plasma frequency P .
Well above the plasma frequency, we also have , such that:

dv r , t
me me v r , t eE r , t me a r , t eE r , t Fe r , t
dt
i kz t
Because E r , t Eo e , and a r , t
r t 2 r t t 2 we see that for P that the

free electrons in a metal oscillate {nearly} in-phase with the driving E of the monochromatic EM
wave. Well above the plasma frequency P , a metals complex index of refraction is real (i.e.
absorption is small), the conductor becomes increasingly transparent as is increased beyond P .
Note also that n 1 for P {i.e. in the so-called anomalous dispersion region}!!!
2 2

n 1 P for ( P ) and: P for ( P )

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

Since n 2 free o 1 efree for non-magnetic conductors, free and efree are
{also} predominantly real at high frequencies ( ) , i.e. K free 1 for .
P free o e p

2
c 1
1 c
The skin depth for p is: sc
P

Below the plasma frequency P , the index of refraction is complex, i.e. is large and
therefore non-negligible; Metals are thus opaque for P .

Well below the plasma frequency : k

and k tan 1 tan 1 45 B lags E by 45o for P
1 o

k 4

The free / conduction electrons in a dispersive conductor also lag E -field by same phase lag.
For P , since the incident EM wave is not transmitted, much of the EM wave is reflected.
Metals have a high reflection coefficient R for P .

In certain situations, such as EM waves propagating in the Earths ionosphere, or e.g. in a

tenuous electronic plasma in the laboratory, the electrons are {truly} free, hence damping is
negligible ( 0 ) in such situations.

Then for situations with negligible damping, i.e. 0 , then n 2 n 2 and the above
relations simply somewhat:

free P
2
nef e 2
n
2
K e 1 e e n n 1
free free
2 2
with: P
o o me

The above relation holds {i.e. is valid} over a wide range of frequencies, including .
For situations with 0 , the imaginary part of complex n ,
2

m n P 0 because 0 .

2

In this regime, where 0 , the wavenumber k is: k 1 P
c
which is sometimes expressed as: 2 P2 ck 2 dispersion relation for k .

{n.b. In dispersive conducting media, where is not small, the above formulae apply only for P .}
2

Note that in a tenuous plasma with P : k 1 P is purely imaginary!!!
c

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 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

EM waves with P incident on such a plasma are reflected for P , because the EM
fields inside tenuous plasma are exponentially attenuated by the factor e kz .
It is precisely this fact that enables e.g. short-wave radio communication around the globe
the short-wave radio waves reflect off of the plasma in the earths ionosphere!
For tenuous electron plasmas in the laboratory:
ne e 2
ne 1018 1022 electrons/m3 P 6 1010 6 1012 radians/sec
o me

At = 0, the static attenuation constant is: m k P c at = 0.
Skin depth (at = 0):
1 c
sc 0 0.5 cm 5 103 cm for static (or low-frequency) EM fields
0 P
Expulsion of EM fields within a plasma is well-known phenomena, e.g. in controlled thermo-
nuclear processes, and can also be exploited e.g. in attempts at confinement of a hot plasma.

Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in a Linear, Homogeneous,

Isotropic Dispersive Conductive Medium
In a conducting medium, metals in particular, the optical / EM properties of many metals are
dominated by the free electrons in the metal, resulting in high reflectance R ~ 85-95%, nearly
independent of the frequency / wavelength of the incident light, at least in the visible light region
of the EM spectrum (~ 350 nm < < 780 nm). These free electrons in such metals as aluminum,
tin, sodium, potassium, cesium, vanadium, niobium, gadolinium, holmium, yttrium, scandium,
osmium, and even iron have a silvery-gray appearance {due to visible light photons scattering off
of the free electrons in the metal} essentially these metals are colorless because of their
wavelength-independent reflectance, but remember / realize that the physical color of an object
illuminated e.g. by white light (= flat distribution in frequency) is reflected light hence the
illuminated object is a poor absorber of light at that wavelength indeed, the object preferentially
absorbs light at other frequencies / wavelengths, and not so much at the frequency / wavelength
associated with the color we perceive it to be, from reflected light see figure below:

Professor Steven Errede, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois 15

2005-2015. All Rights Reserved.
 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

Some conducting metals, such as gold and copper, as well as various alloys e.g. bronze and
brass (zinc, tin and copper) do not have a silvery-gray appearance, but have a yellow / orange /
red tinge to them. This is because these metals preferentially absorb (i.e. transmit) in the
green-blue region and thus reflect more-so in the yellow / orange / red region of the visible light
spectrum, giving these metals their characteristic hues / colors.
Gold-metalized safety glasses with a very thin layer of gold deposited on them have
transmittance T(f) peaked ~ in the green portion of the visible spectrum. Goggles/safety glasses
coated with a thin gold layer are used by people who work around high-temperature furnaces.
Visible light from the furnace {peaked ~ in the green} is transmitted, but infrared light (i.e. heat)
is strongly reflected by gold!
Because free / conduction electrons in a metal have no resonances (except the one at = 0)
because there are no restoring forces acting on them. In such metals as gold and copper, bound
electrons e.g. in the so-called valence bands of the metal also play a non-negligible role e.g. in
the optical properties of the metal i.e. in the visible light portion of the EM spectrum!

Since (i.e. we assume) the response of the free electrons in the conduction band is separable /
independent of the response of the bound electrons in the valence band(s) to incident EM waves

(valid as long as the amplitudes of E / B are not too large). Thus we {again} use the principle of linear
superposition for the complex electric permittivity: tot o vac bnd efree

neb e 2 n bound 12j 2 i j n bound

with:
where: vac 1 , bnd fj 1
osc
f josc
o me j 1
2 2 2 2 2 j 1
1 j j

n.b. nbe = # density (= #/m3) of bound atomic electrons in the dispersive conducting medium

nef e 2 0 i 0 2 i 0
2 2

and where: free

2 2 2 2 2 P2 where: 0 0
o me 0 0
e
0
4 2 2

and: nef = # density (#/m3) of free conduction-band electrons in the dispersive conducting medium.

nef e 2
The plasma frequency of free electrons in the dispersive conducting medium is: P
o me

16 Professor Steven Errede, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois

2005-2015. All Rights Reserved.
 UIUC Physics 436 EM Fields & Sources II Fall Semester, 2015 Lect. Notes 8 Prof. Steven Errede

Then:

12j 2 i j
nb e 2 n bound 2 i 0
tot o 1 o 1 e f josc
tot 2
2 2
o me j 1
e P
0
2 2 2 2 2 4

1 j j

etot ebnd efree

neb e 2 n bound 12j 2 i j 2 i 0

2
fj
tot bnd free osc

e e e P
0
2 4 2 2
m
o e j 1 2 2 2 2
1 j j

If the dispersive conducting medium is non-magnetic o , the complex index of

refraction n n i is related to the complex permittivity i by:

12j 2 i j
tot ne e n bound
b 2 2 i 0
e
2
n f j
2 tot
1 1
osc
2 2
o m
P
0
2 4
o e j 1
2 2 2 2

1 j j

n bound
nef e 2
with: f josc 1 , P and with: n 2 n i n i n 2 2 i 2n
j 1 o me

Complex n n i is related to complex k k i by the relations:

c c c
k n or: n k with: n k and:
c

Professor Steven Errede, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois 17

2005-2015. All Rights Reserved.