Electromagnetic Materials

Abstract This article describes the electromagnetic properties of certain types of mediums or materials in which the process of electromagnetics takes place. The introductory part discusses the evolution of electromagnetics based on theories and experiments by the pioneering scientists in the past. The following portions of the article deal with the different types of mediums, including isotropic and anisotropic dielectrics, conductors, semiconductors, superconductors, electrooptic, and optically active mediums. The fundamentals of magnetic materials are described in greater detail, explaining the mechanisms of magnetization and special materials such as ferrites. Bianisotropic materials and their constitutive equations are also discussed. Here, the focus is on some of the fundamental aspects of the constitutive characterization of bianisotropic mediums. The last three sections describe the basics and important applications of the phenomena of magnetostriction, piezoelectricity, and metamaterials.