Frontiers in Computing and Intelligent Systems 
ISSN: 2832-6024 | Vol. 3, No. 1, 2023 

 

185 

Study on The Scattering Characteristics of 
Electromagnetic Wave with Dielectric Band 

Shuai Zhou1, a, Xiaofeng Hu1 *, Chao Zhang2, Xining Xie1, Lei Wang1, Yu Zhang3 

1 National Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Environmental Effects, Army Engineering University; Shijiazhuang 050003, China 
2 Hebei Taihang Metrology and Testing Co., Ltd, Shijiazhuang,050000, China 
3 CRSC Research & Design Institute Group Co., Ltd, Beijing,100000, China 

a zhoushuaifei@163.com, * Corresponding author: Xiaofeng Hu 

 

Abstract: When electromagnetic signal penetrates medium, its signal intensity will decrease and even change the polarity of 

electromagnetic wave due to the scattering of electromagnetic wave. Electromagnetic wave signal propagation in rainy days, fog 

days, dust and another medium electromagnetic signal attenuation phenomenon. Since raindrops, haze particles, dust particles 

and other media have different degrees of electric quantity, in order to measure the effect of charge itself on electromagnetic 

wave attenuation, this paper involves the attenuation experiment of electromagnetic wave with dielectric plates. PP board, PVC 

board and PMMA board are selected to conduct experimental research on the influence of electromagnetic signal attenuation. 

Keywords: Electromagnetic wave; Charged; Attenuation; Dielectric plate. 

 

1. The conductivity of the dielectric 
plate and its influence on 
electromagnetic wave propagation 

The electrons in the dielectric, also known as insulators, are 

bound around the nucleus to which they belong, so few free 

electrons inside the material can only make microscopic 

displacement even if they are affected by external electric 

field, and most of the charged particles in the molecules can 

only make macroscopic migration like the free electrons in 

the conductor [1]. 

Conductivity is a measure of a substance's ability to carry 

current, defined by Ohm's law as the ratio of current density 

to electric field strength. The relative dielectric constant is a 

physical parameter that characterizes the dielectric property 

or polarization property of a material, whose value is equal to 

the ratio of the capacitance of a capacitor of the same size 

made of vacuum medium to the predicted dielectric material 

[2-4]. 

The relationship between the dielectric constant and the 

conductivity is (1 / )e j   = −  

e  : Dielectric constant j  : maginary unit   : The 

conductivity of the medium  : The angular frequency of an 

electromagnetic wave  : The dielectric constant of an ideal 

medium. It follows that, when e =  , the conductivity is 

zero and the surface conductivity is zero. When the charge is 

0, the conductivity is 0, and when the charge is not 0, the 

conductivity is not 0.  

The conductivity of a substance is not only related to its 

condensed state and composition, but also related to the 

external electric field conditions in which the substance is 

located. For substances in a strong field, the magnitude of 

molecular electric dipole moment, the arrangement and 

distribution of molecules, the thermal vibration of crystalline 

lattice, etc., may all change greatly, thus changing the 

electrical conductivity of substances [5]. 

There is a surface conduction current through the surface 

of a solid medium S SI G U=  , Where SG  is the surface 

conductance of solid medium, unit S. If two parallel plate 

electrodes are added on the surface of solid medium, the 

distance between electrodes is D, and the electrode length is 

L, then S s

l
G

d
=   In the formula, the proportional 

coefficient s  is the surface conductivity of the medium, 

which has the same unit as the dielectric conductance, and is 

also Siemens., It can also be written as surface current density

S
S s s

I U
J E

l d
 = = =  Where, SJ is the surface current 

density, whose unit is Am-1. 

The value of the surface conductivity s   (or surface 

resistivity s ) of the medium is not only related to the nature 

of the medium, but also affected by the humidity, temperature, 

surface structure and contamination of the surrounding 

environment [6]. 

When the dielectric is positive relative to the conductor, the 

discharge area generated on the dielectric is uniform and 

round, the discharge area is relatively small, and the energy 

released is also relatively small. When the dielectric is 

negative potential relative to the conductor, the discharge area 

generated on the dielectric is an irregular star-shaped area 

with a large area and more energy released [7]. 

Different electrical conductivity of the medium scattering 

of electromagnetic waves, the conductivity of the smaller 

conductor medium, the medium can produce scattering and 

absorption of electromagnetic waves, lead to the 

electromagnetic wave energy attenuation, the conductivity 

larger conductive medium, electric conductivity after the 

incident to the surface, can produce skin effect, 

electromagnetic wave propagation in the medium surface 

scattering, and decay, not the incident to the depths of the 

medium, degree of attenuation is greater than the low 

conductivity of medium (8-9). 



 

186 

2. Interaction between dielectric and 
electromagnetic wave 

The influence of band dielectric on the propagation of 

electromagnetic wave is studied based on the interaction 

between electromagnetic wave and medium. The study of 

electromagnetic wave propagation characteristics mainly 

studies the reflection and transmission characteristics of 

electromagnetic wave, which are affected by the 

electromagnetic parameters of materials. The electrification 

of the medium will change these parameters and then affect 

the propagation characteristics of electromagnetic waves. 

Reflection, transmission and absorption and other 

phenomena occur when electromagnetic waves are 

perpendicular to the interface of two media, as shown in Fig1. 

 
Fig .1 Incident, reflection and transmission of electromagnetic 

wave at the boundary of medium 

Assuming that a beam of electromagnetic wave is incident 

from medium A to medium B in the z direction, and the 

electric field direction of incident wave, reflected wave and 

transmitted wave is X direction, the electric field Ei and 

magnetic field Hi of incident wave can be expressed as: 

a

a

jk

i im x

jkim
i y

a

E E e e

E
H e e



−

−

 =



=


             (1) 

Whereex and ey are unit vectors in x andy directions 

perpendicular to each other and also to the propagation 

direction z, and Eim is the magnetic induction intensity of the 

incident wave; k is the propagation coefficient, k  = , 

andη is the intrinsic impedance. The impedance can be 

expressed by the following equation: 

For ferromagnetic materials such as metals: 

/ j


  


 
= − 

 
           (2) 

For non-metallic materials with good insulation: 

/  =                  (3) 

Among them, ε and μ are dielectric constant and 

permeability, σ is conductivity, ω is the angular frequency of 

electromagnetic wave. Similarly, the electric and magnetic 

fields of reflected and transmitted electromagnetic waves can 

be expressed as: 

a

a

jk

r rm x

jkrm
r y

a

E E e e

E
H e e



 =



= −


            (4) 

b

b

jk

t tm x

jktm
t y

b

E E e e

E
H e e



−

−

 =



=


             (5) 

Where Erand Et are the electric fields of reflected and 

transmitted waves respectively, Hr and Ht are the magnetic 

fields of reflected and transmitted waves respectively, and 

Erm and Etm are the electric fields of reflected and 

transmitted waves respectively. 

The reflection coefficient in transmission line theory can 

quantitatively describe the absorption performance of 

electromagnetic waves of materials and reflect the degree of 

reflection attenuation of dielectric materials to incident 

electromagnetic waves [10]. 

3. Experimental design of 
electromagnetic wave attenuation 
with dielectric plate 

The high voltage source is used to make the dielectric plate 

electrify. After the dielectric plate is electrified, after careful 

elimination treatment, then carry out the electrification 

experiment behind, because the object's electrification history 

or electrification state, directly affects the object's 

electrostatic starting electric quantity and the object's 

electrification symbol. Originally, the measurement results of 

electrification in the first contact and separation between 

uncharged objects can reflect the actual electrification 

properties of objects [11]. 

Experimental materials selection: according to the laws of 

the object surface charge dissipates, through a series of static 

leakage testing, finally selected experimental dielectric 

materials for acrylic (60 cm long, 60 cm wide, the thickness 

of 4 mm, 15 mm, 30 mm), PVC board (60 cm long, 60 cm 

wide, the thickness of 3 mm, 15 mm, 30 mm), PP board (60 

cm long, 60 cm wide, the thickness of 3 mm, 15 mm, 30 mm). 

Experimental instruments: signal source SML01(9KHz-

1.1ghz), signal source SMR 20 (1G HZ-20ghz), two double-

cone antennas, two log-periodic antenna ETS3142E(26MHZ-

6ghz), horn antenna BBHA9120D (1201), spectrum analyzer 

AgilentE4440A(3HZ-26.5GHz), positive high voltage source, 

negative high voltage source, consumer. 

Experimental frequency selection: generally, no less than 3 

frequency points are selected within every 10 octaves. In 

order to better study the electromagnetic wave attenuation law 

under different frequencies, frequency point density is 

increased. Finally, frequency point is selected as 

follows:1GHz, 1.2Ghz, 1.4Ghz, 1.5Ghz, 1.6Ghz, 1.7Ghz, 

1.8Ghz, 1.7Ghz, 1.8Ghz, 1.9Ghz, 2.2Ghz, 2.1Ghz, 2.2Ghz, 

2.4Ghz, 3Ghz, 5Ghz, 6Ghz, 8Ghz, 9Ghz, 12Ghz, 15Ghz, 

17Ghz. During the experiment, the distance between the 

antenna and the shielding material was strictly carried out in 

accordance with the standard, and the ground was marked to 

ensure the repeatability of the experiment. Anti-static clothing 

was worn during the whole operation. 

The experimental construction system block diagram is 

shown in Figure 2 below: 

The experimental steps are as follows: 

(1) Connect the experimental instruments, adjust the 

vertical polarization of the antennas, and output power of the 

signal source is 10dBm; 

(2). Record the received power of each frequency point 

after passing through the air; 

(3). Ensure that the experimental conditions remain 

unchanged, install the measured medium plate in the window 

of the shielding room, use the non-contact meter to measure 

the voltage of the medium plate, and record the received 

power at each frequency point under the basic voltage; 

(4) The surface charge amount of the dielectric plate is 

increased by using the jet method to record the receiving 

Mediu

m a 

Medium 
b 

Incidenc

e 

Refle

x 

Transmissio

n 



 

187 

power at various frequency points under high voltage. 

Absorber-Lined Shielded Enclosure

Signal 

source

Transmitt

-ing 

Antenna

Receiving

Antenna

Spectrum

Analyzer

 

Fig.2 Block diagram of the experimental system for measuring the 
shielding effectiveness of the dielectric plate 

4. Analysis of experimental data 

Taking 3mmPP board as an example, the data is presented 

in the form of THREE-DIMENSIONAL diagram, the X 

coordinate is Voltage/V, the Y coordinate is Frequency/GHz, 

and the Z coordinate is Received Power/dBm. The data is as 

follows See Fig. 3. 

 

Fig.3 Schematic diagram of received power of 3mmPP board at 
different voltages and frequencies 

As can be seen from the figure, with the increase of electric 

charge, the receiving power becomes smaller and smaller, 

indicating that the dielectric plate is electrified, which 

increases the attenuation of electromagnetic wave. After the 

statistical collation of data, it is found that the experimental 

media have this trend. It shows that the charge has an effect 

on the attenuation of electromagnetic wave in the dielectric 

plate. 

Taking the 2GHz 3mmPP board as an example, the 

received power and fitting curve under different voltages are 

shown in Fig4. 

-10000 -8000 -6000 -4000 -2000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000

-10.60

-10.55

-10.50

-10.45

-10.40

-10.35

-10.30

 2GHz
 Polynomial Fit of Received Power

R
e
c
e
i
v
e
d
 
P
o
w
e
r
 
(
d
B
m
)

Voltage (V)  

Fig.4 Receiving power of 3mmPP board at 2GHz 

It directly reflects that the receiving power reaches its 

maximum at the voltage of 0. With the increase of electric 

quantity, the receiving power decreases obviously, and the 

receiving power of acrylic and PVC plates also has this rule. 

Experiments have verified that the electrification of medium 

plates has certain influence on the attenuation of 

electromagnetic waves. 

The attenuation maximum value statistics of various 

materials are shown in Table 1 below. 

Tab.1 Statistical table of the maximum value of power attenuation of each material 

Dielectric plate 

material 

Maximum power 

attenuation at 

positive voltage /dB 

Minimum power 

attenuation at 

positive voltage /dB 

Maximum power 

attenuation at 

negative voltage /dB 

Minimum power 

attenuation at 

negative voltage /dB 

3mmPP plate 0.89 0.08 0.72 0.13 

15mmPP plate 0.37 0.02 1.1 0.05 

30mmPP plate 0.69 0.05 0.8 0.05 

3mmPVC plate 1.04 0.04 0.65 0.09 

15mmPVC plate 0.47 0.05 0.39 0.07 

30mmPVC plate 1.63 0.04 1.64 0.06 

4mmPMMA plate 1.89 0.04 2.53 0.08 

15mmPMMA plate 0.85 0.03 0.97 0.06 

30mmPMMA plate 0.42 0.04 0.51 0.08 

Influences of various factors on electromagnetic wave 

attenuation of dielectric plates: 

(1). Influence of different thickness on electromagnetic 

wave attenuation of dielectric plate. 

As shown in Fig5., the thickness of dielectric plates with 

dielectric plates is not proportional to electromagnetic wave 

attenuation according to the experimental data results. 

(2). The influence of different frequencies on 

electromagnetic wave attenuation of dielectric plates 

As shown in figure 6, with the increase of frequency, the 

attenuation of electromagnetic wave increase trend on the 

whole, analyze in PP board, for example, 3 MMPP plate as 

the frequency increases, the electromagnetic wave attenuation 

increases monotonously, 15 MMPP look under voltage 

increases monotonously with the increase of frequency 

electromagnetic wave attenuation, 15 MMPP plate under the 

negative voltage and 30 MMPP plate with increased 

frequency of electromagnetic wave attenuation increases after 

the first decreases, and the overall trend of flat. 

(3). Influence of different materials on electromagnetic 



 

188 

wave attenuation of dielectric plates. 

As shown in Fig. 7, the influence of dielectric plates with 

three kinds of materials on electromagnetic wave attenuation 

is shown in fig. 7. The influence trend of electromagnetic 

wave attenuation under different thickness and voltage of the 

same material is the same. 

 

Fig.5 Electromagnetic wave attenuation of dielectric plates with different thickness 

 
Fig.6 Electromagnetic wave attenuation of PP plate at different frequencies 

 

Fig.7 Electromagnetic wave attenuation of dielectric plates with different materials 

5. Conclusion 

Various obstacles will be encountered in the process of 

electromagnetic wave propagation. Due to the different shape, 

size and material properties of obstacles, different forms of 

electromagnetic wave scattering will be caused, and the 



 

189 

received electromagnetic wave energy will be somewhat 

attenuated. When electromagnetic wave encounter obstacles 

with electrostatic, because the free electrons forced vibration 

occurred in the electromagnetic field, forced the free electrons 

to be seen as electric dipole, outward scattering of 

electromagnetic wave, causing the scattering field increases, 

at the same time, the vibration of the free electrons consumes 

transmission of electromagnetic energy, causing the energy 

loss in the process of electromagnetic wave propagation [12, 

13].The experiment of electromagnetic wave attenuation on 

dielectric plate proves that the influence of electric charge on 

electromagnetic wave propagation is enhanced, and the 

attenuation of electromagnetic wave increases with the 

increase of electric charge. 

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