Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2008/ib/paper-3/17b/ii/solution

Substitute the monochromatic plane waves into the two divergence equations of Maxwell's equations. They become and . For nonzero wavenumber,
Thus both fields are transverse to the direction of propagation. The wave equation also gives the vacuum dispersion relation .

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