Conductor

Reflection at a Conducting Surface
Dr. Priti Mishra
In the case of conductors the free current Jf is not zero. In fact, according
to Ohm’s law, the (free) current density in a conductor is proportional to
the electric field:
J = σE (1)
With this, Maxwell’s equations for linear media assume the form
ρf
∇.E =

∇.B = 0
∂B
∇×E = −
∂t
∂E
∇ × B = µσE + µ
∂t
Now the continuity equation for free charge,

∂ρf
∇.Jf = − , (2)
∂t
together with Ohm’s law and Gauss’s law (First Maxwell’s equation), gives
∂ρf σ
= −σ(∇.E) = − ρf (3)
∂t
for a homogeneous linear medium, from which it follows that
ρf (t) = ρf (0)e−σ/t . (4)
Thus any initial free charge density ρf (0) dissipates in a characteristic time
τ ≡ /σ. This reflects the familiar fact that if you put some free charge on
a conductor, it will flow out to the edges. The time constant τ affords a
measure of how ”good” a conductor is: For a ”perfect” conductor σ = ∞
and τ = 0; for a ”good” conductor, τ is much less than the other relevant
times in the problem (in oscillatory systems, that means τ 1/ω); for a
”poor” conductor, τ is greater than the characteristic times in the problem
(τ 1/ω).
Hence, the boundary conditions which were used to analyze reflection
1
and refraction at an interface between two dielectrics do not hold in the
presence of free charges and currents. Instead, we have the more general
relations
1 E1⊥ − 2 E2⊥ = σf (5)

B1⊥ − B2⊥ =0 (6)
k k
E1 − E2 =0 (7)
k k
B1 B2
− = Kf × n̂ (8)
µ1 µ2
where σf (not to be confused with conductivity) is the free surface charge,

Kf the free surface current, and n̂ (not to be confused with the polarization
of the wave) is a unit vector perpendicular to the surface, pointing from
medium (2) into medium (1). For ohmic conductors (Jf = σE) there can
be no free surface current, since this would require an infinite electric field
at the boundary.
Suppose now that the xy plane forms the boundary between a noncon-
ducting linear medium (1) and a conductor (2). A monochromatic plane
wave, of frequency ω traveling in the Z direction and polarized in the x
direction, approaches from the left, as in Fig. 1
Figure 1:
2
EI (z, t) = E0I e(k1 z−ωt) x̂ (9)
E0I (k1 z−ωt)
BI (z, t) = B0I e(k1 z−ωt) ŷ = e ŷ (10)
v1
This incident wave gives rise to a reflected wave,
ER (z, t) = E0R e(−k1 z−ωt) x̂ (11)

E0
BR (z, t) = − R e(−k1 z−ωt) ŷ (12)
v1
which travels back to the left in medium (1), and a transmitted wave
ET (z, t) = E0T e(k2 z−ωt) x̂ (13)

E0T (k2 z−ωt)
BT (z, t) = e ŷ (14)
v2
Or,
k2
BT (z, t) =E0 e(k2 z−ωt) ŷ ∵ v2 = ω/k2 (15)
ω T
which continues on the the right in medium (2) and is attenuated as it
penetrates into the conductor.
At z = 0, the combined wave in medium (1) must join the wave in
medium (2), pursuant to the boundary conditions in equations (5)-(8). Since
E⊥ = 0 on both sides, boundary condition (5) yields σf = 0. Since B⊥ = 0,
boundary condition (6) is automatically satisfied. Meanwhile, boundary
condition (7) gives
E0I + E0R = E0T (16)
and boundary condition (8) (with Kf = 0) says
1 k2
(E0I − E0R ) − E0 = 0 (17)
µ1 v 1 µ2 ω T
or
E0I − E0R = βE0T (18)
where
µ1 v 1
β≡ k2 . (19)
µ2 ω
It follows that
1−β
E0R = E0 (20)
1+β I
2
E0T = E0 (21)
1+β I
What fraction of the incident energy is reflected, and what fraction is trans-
mitted? The intensity (average power per unit area) is
1
I = vE02 (22)
2
3
Hence the reflection and transmission coefficients are
1 v1 E02R 1−β 2

IR
R= = = | | (23)
II 1 v1 E02I 1+β
(24)
2
2 v2 E02T

IT 2 v2 2
T = = = | | (25)
II 1 v1 E02I 1 v1 1+β
These results are formally identical to the ones that apply at the boundary
between nonconductors but β is now a complex number.
For a perfect conductor (σ = ∞), k2 = ∞, so β is infinite, and
E0R = −E0I (26)

E0T = 0. (27)
In this case the wave is totally reflected because E0T is zero in equation (27)
, with a 180°phase shift because of minus sign in the equation (26). (That’s
why excellent conductors make good mirrors.
In practice, you paint a thin coating of silver onto the back of a pane
of glass-the glass has nothing to do with the reflection; it’s just there to
support the silver and to keep it from tarnishing. Since the skin depth in
silver at optical frequencies is on the order of 100Å, you don’t need a very
thick layer.)
4
Example: Calculate the reflection coefficient for light at an air-to-silver
interface (µ1 = µ2 = µ0 , 1 = 0 , σ = 6 × 107 (Ωm)−1 , at optical frequencies
ω = 4 × 1015 s−1 .
Solution: Since the reflection coefficient is:
1−β 2

R= | | (28)
1+β
where
µ1 v 1
β≡ k2 . (29)
µ2 ω
We know from the propagation of electromagnetic waves in a conducting
material that the propagation vector in a conducting medium is
Since k2 , the propagation vector is a complex number in a conductor, let
k2 = a + ib. (30)
Since silver is a good conductor, σ ω,

r
σωµ2
a∼=b∼ = . (31)
2
Hence r r
µ1 v 1 σωµ2 σ
β= (1 + i) = µ1 v1 (1 + i) (32)
µ2 ω 2 2µ2 ω
Let r
σ
γ = µ 1 v1 (33)
2µ2 ω
Since, medium 1 is air, v1 = c and it is given that mu1 = µ2 = µ0 ,
r r
σ σµ0
γ = µ0 c =c (34)
2µ0 ω 2ω
5
Given: σ = 6 × 107 (Ωm)−1 , ω = 4 × 1015 s−1 and we know that
µ0 = 4π × 10−7 , c = 3 × 108 ,
r
6 × 107 × 4π × 10−7
⇒ γ = 3 × 108 = 29. (35)
2 × 4 × 1015
Now
∵ β = γ(1 + i) (36)
1 − β∗

1−β 2 1−β
⇒ R =| | = (37)
1+β 1+β 1 + β∗
Or,
1 − γ(1 + i) 1 − γ(1 − i)
⇒R= (38)
1 + γ(1 + i) 1 + γ(1 − i)
Or,
(1 − γ)2 + γ 2 )
R= (39)
(1 + γ)2 + γ 2 )
From equation (35),
γ = 29, (40)
⇒ R = 0.93 (41)
Evidently 93% light is reflected.

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Reflection at a Conducting Surface

Dr. Priti Mishra

Now the continuity equation for free charge,

ρf (t) = ρf (0)e−σ/t . (4)

Hence, the boundary conditions which were used to analyze reflection

1 E1⊥ − 2 E2⊥ = σf (5)

where σf (not to be confused with conductivity) is the free surface charge,

ER (z, t) = E0R e(−k1 z−ωt) x̂ (11)

ET (z, t) = E0T e(k2 z−ωt) x̂ (13)

For a perfect conductor (σ = ∞), k2 = ∞, so β is infinite, and

E0R = −E0I (26)

Solution: Since the reflection coefficient is:

Since k2 , the propagation vector is a complex number in a conductor, let

Since silver is a good conductor, σ ω,

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Conductor

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Reflection at a Conducting Surface

Dr. Priti Mishra

Now the continuity equation for free charge,

ρf (t) = ρf (0)e−σ/t . (4)

Hence, the boundary conditions which were used to analyze reflection

1 E1⊥ − 2 E2⊥ = σf (5)

where σf (not to be confused with conductivity) is the free surface charge,

ER (z, t) = E0R e(−k1 z−ωt) x̂ (11)

ET (z, t) = E0T e(k2 z−ωt) x̂ (13)

For a perfect conductor (σ = ∞), k2 = ∞, so β is infinite, and

E0R = −E0I (26)

Solution: Since the reflection coefficient is:

Since k2 , the propagation vector is a complex number in a conductor, let

Since silver is a good conductor, σ  ω,

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ρf (t) = ρf (0)e−σ/t . (4)

1 E1⊥ − 2 E2⊥ = σf (5)

Since silver is a good conductor, σ ω,