4

Jia-Ming Liu

Photonic Devices

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL BACKGROUND

1.1.1 Maxwells equations and the continuity equation are:

B
,
t
D
,
J+
t
0,
,

.
t

B
D

=
=

From Section 1.1, we know that E, D, and all change sign under spatial inversion but not
under time reversal. We also know that H, B, and /t all change sign under time reversal
but not under spatial inversion. J changes sign under either spatial inversion or time reversal,
but never changes sign under spatial inversion or time reversal.
(a) Taking spatial inversion, the equations become:
(E)
H

B
,
t

= J +

= 0,

(D)

= ,

(J)

(D)
,
t

.
t

Each equation returns to its original form after the signs are cleared up. Hence, Maxwells
equations and the continuity equation are invariant under spatial inversion.
(b) Taking time reversal, the equations become:
E
(H)
(B)

(B)
,
(t)
D
= J +
,
(t)
= 0,
=

= ,

(J)

.
(t)

Each equation returns to its original form after the signs are cleared up. Hence, Maxwells
equations and the continuity equation are invariant under time reversal.
(c) Taking both spatial inversion and time reversal, the equations become:
(E) =
(H) =
(B) =

(B)
,
(t)
(D)
J+
,
(t)
0,

Jia-Ming Liu

Photonic Devices

(D) =

.
(t)

Note the sign of J is not changed here because it changes twice in this situation. Each equation
returns to its original form after the signs are cleared up. Hence, Maxwells equations and the
continuity equation are invariant under simultaneous spatial inversion and time reversal.

54

Jia-Ming Liu

Photonic Devices

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL BACKGROUND

1.10.1 To compare () directly with (1.175) and (1.176), the magnitude of (t) in (1.174) is taken
to be 2b 0 :
 t
sin 0 t t > 0
e
(t) = 2b 0
0
t < 0.
Then,

(t)eit dt = 2b 0
et sin(0 t)eit dt,

0
 i0 t


e
ei0 t
2b 0
et
eit dt,
2i

0

b 0
ei(+0 )tt dt
ei(0 )tt dt ,
i
0
 0

b 0
1
1
+
,
i
i( + 0 )
i( 0 )


0
0

,
b
( + 0 ) + i
( 0 ) + i


() =
=
=
=
=

where b is a real constant. To examine the real and imaginary parts of (), we express ()
as


0 ( + 0 ) i0
0 ( 0 ) i0
() = b

,
( + 0 )2 + 2
( 0 )2 + 2


0 ( + 0 )
0 ( 0 )
,

= b
( + 0 )2 + 2
( 0 )2 + 2


0
0
+ib
+
,
( + 0 )2 + 2
( 0 )2 + 2
=  () + i ().
We nd that

() =
=
=
 () =
=
=


0 ( + 0 )
0 ( 0 )
,
b

( + 0 )2 + 2
( 0 )2 + 2


0 ( + 0 )
0 ( 0 )
b
+
,
( 0 )2 + 2
( + 0 )2 + 2
even function of ,
 (),


0
0
b
+
,
( + 0 )2 + 2
( 0 )2 + 2


0
0
b
+
,
( 0 )2 + 2
( + 0 )2 + 2
odd function of .
 (),

We also nd that a term with a denominator consisting of ( + 0 )2 is very small compared

with one consisting of ( 0 )2 when | +0 |  | 0 |. Therefore,  () and  () obtained
above can be approximated as
 () = b

0 ( 0 )
,
( 0 )2 + 2

 () = b

0
,
( 0 )2 + 2

(1.176).

Jia-Ming Liu

Photonic Devices

The reality condition is valid for the exact expression of () obtained above:


() =
() =
=
() =


0
0

b
,
( + 0 ) i
( 0 ) i


0
0

b
,
( + 0 ) + i
( 0 ) + i


0
0
+
,
b
( 0 ) i
( + 0 ) i
().

55

Jia-Ming Liu

Photonic Devices

61

1.11.3 The photons that can be transmitted through Si without being absorbed are those that have
energies below the bandgap of Si, i.e., h < 1.12 eV. Such photons have wavelengths longer
than the wavelength corresponding to the bandgap:
>

1.2398
m = 1.107 m.
1.12