Customer Reviews

Electromagnetic Wave Theory

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This book presents a unified macroscopic theory of electromagnetic waves. It covers a wide range of topics, including those which are standard in many engineering electromagnetics textbooks and some which are unique to this one. For example, standard fare includes transmission line theory, time harmonic fields, reflection and transmission at a boundary, guidance, and resonance. In addition, Kong also covers EM waves in media - isotropic, anisotropic, bianisotropic, plasma - and the kDB system which is something unique. Kong also goes into advanced topics such as dyadic Green's functions, light guidance in fiber optics, and special relativity. A great deal of emphasis is placed on the fundamental importance of the wave vector k in electromagnetic wave theory by Kong. This is the central theme of the text - if you understand k, then you can understand the behavior of the wave.

This text is mainly used for two graduate courses in electromagnetic wave theory at MIT. Essentially the text is a copy of the lecture notes. As a graduate level text, it has a great deal of mathematics. However, the author usually shows enough steps so that the student can follow. Anyhow, the math is tedious but not overly complex, except for a few horrid sections. The notation used throughout the book is not very consistent. For example, coordinates are switched and use of j is replaced with -i. All in all, however, the text is very good. There is flow and reason from section to section and chapter to chapter. Equations are explained reasonably well. Some of the more advanced sections can be hard to get through though. There definitely needs to be more explanation in some sections like the guidance and resonance sections. Be warned though - this textbook is definitely a work in progress. Kong continuously adds new material to every edition, since he'll still be fine-tuning his course material. One can definitely use this text as their first encounter with electromagnetic wave theory. However, exposing yourself to E&M with a text like Griffiths' Electrodynamics would be tremendously helpful as an introduction.

If one has the chance, one should definitely take a course with Professor Kong. He is a god of E&M. And his lectures are an experience you should definitely have - they're great!

I used this book for a graduate-level electromagnetics course focusing on waveguides and the book was a phenomenal resource. Kong explains most topics very clearly through words and examples, and I thoroughly enjoyed the small snippets that were written about many influential scientists that were sprinkled throughout the text. The problems were thought-prevoking and challenging, and I would recommend this volume to anyone

The book is in a very good condition. It arrived pretty early. It is signed by Jin

Au Kong. I am very pleased with this purchase. Thank you very much.

Saffet Gokcen Sen.

This is a good book covering the various type of wave interaction with materials and propagation. Has a clear and easily understood presentation of the kDB system which is useful for anisotropic materials. The 3rd edition is rearranged somewhat with maybe some additional material; however, I found the typeset of the 2nd edition much easier to read, I would recommend getting the 2nd edition unless there is a real difference to your needs.

Unfortunately, there will be no more additions to this text by the author. Prof. Kong passed away in March 2008 (age 66). Clearly, he will be missed by his army of students, and by those of us that have encountered his work at some point in their careers.

The first review covers the text quite well. I found the material comprehensive and challenging.