The Application of Electromagnetic Waves in Complex Variables and its Relevance

Electromagnetic Waves in Complex Variables
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Electromagnetic Waves in Complex Variables
Electromagnetic (EM) waves are created from the vibrations of magnetic and electric fields. In other words, EM waves comprise oscillating electric and magnetic fields. For complex variables of EM waves to be formed, the magnetic and electric fields must meet perpendicularly. In particular, EM waves are applicable in various aspects of life today. They have a vast range of practical applications in everyday life, including radio broadcasting, cooking, cell phone communication, cancer treatment, medical imaging, and vision. The paper focuses on the application of complex variables in electromagnetic waves.
EM waves travel through any medium, namely vacuum, solid, or air. In a vacuum, they travel with a velocity of 3.00*108 ms-1 and cannot be deflected by any material (NASA Science, 2016). Nevertheless, EM waves show diffraction and interference. They are unlike water or sound waves that require a medium to travel. EM waves are usually measured by their wavelength and amplitude. Notably, the wavelength is the distance between the lowest or highest points of two waves following each other. The lowest point is called a trough, while the highest point is called the crest (NASA Science, 2016). The following diagram shows EM frequency and wavelength.


Figure 1: EM Frequency and Wavelength (Source: https://science.nasa.gov/ems/02_anatomy)
The complex variables of EM waves can be split into distinctive frequencies called the EM spectrum. They include gamma rays, radio waves, microwaves, X-rays, and infrared waves, as shown in the figure below.


Figure 2: EM Spectrum (Source: /science/electromagnetic-spectrum)
EM waves carry energy as they propagate through different mediums. Specifically, they are complex variables since their corresponding frequencies determine their application. Different EM spectrum portions are called distinctive names depending on their absorption, transmission, ...