GATE EC 2016 Set 3 — Question 34
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Electromagnetics → Plane Waves → Polarization (Linear, Circular, Elliptical)
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Question
If a right-handed circularly polarized wave is incident normally on a plane perfect conductor, then the reflected wave will be
Correct answer
(B) left-handed circularly polarized
Solution
When a circularly polarized wave is incident normally on a perfect conductor, the tangential electric field must be zero at the boundary. This requires a phase shift for the reflected electric field components parallel to the surface.
For a right-handed circularly polarized (RHCP) wave, the electric field vector rotates in a clockwise direction when viewed in the direction of propagation. Upon reflection, the direction of propagation is reversed. The phase shift, combined with the reversal of the propagation direction, changes the sense of rotation relative to the direction of propagation from right-handed to left-handed. Therefore, the reflected wave is left-handed circularly polarized (LHCP).
For a right-handed circularly polarized (RHCP) wave, the electric field vector rotates in a clockwise direction when viewed in the direction of propagation. Upon reflection, the direction of propagation is reversed. The phase shift, combined with the reversal of the propagation direction, changes the sense of rotation relative to the direction of propagation from right-handed to left-handed. Therefore, the reflected wave is left-handed circularly polarized (LHCP).
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