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If a cosine wave satisfies Maxwell's equations then how does a sine satisfy the equations as well?

Physics Asked on March 28, 2021

Say the real part of

$$tilde{mathbf{E}}(z, t)=tilde{mathbf{E}}_{0} e^{i(k z-omega t)}$$

satisfies all Maxwell’s equations. Then how can we say the imaginary part satisfies the equations as well?

Griffiths says in a footnote

Because the real part of E differs from the imaginary part only in the replacement of sine by cosine, if the former obeys Maxwell’s equations, so does the latter.

One Answer

Changing the phase by $frac pi 2$ results in $tilde{mathbf{E}}(z, t)=tilde{mathbf{E}}_{0} e^{i(k z-omega t)}$ becoming $tilde{mathbf{E}}(z, t)=tilde{mathbf{E}}_{0} e^{i(k z-omega t-frac pi 2)}$.

However $e^{-ipi/2}=-i$ so the new solution is $tilde{mathbf{E}}(z, t)=-i,tilde{mathbf{E}}_{0} e^{i(k z-omega t)}$ which is the original solution multiplied by a constant term, $-,i$.

If you take the real part you now get a sine function.

Answered by Farcher on March 28, 2021

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