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Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT-JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics

Chapter -7
Applications of Electromagnetic waves
7.1 Reflection and Refraction at Dielectric Interface
7.1.1 Normal Incidence
Suppose xy plane forms the boundary between two linear media. A plane wave of
frequency  , traveling in the z-direction and polarized in the x direction, approaches the
interface from the left then
Incident Wave

E I ( z , t )  E 0 I ei ( k1 z t ) xˆ 

 E i ( k z  t ) 
B I ( z , t )  0 I
e 1 yˆ  1
x
2
v1  I T
Reflected Wave v1 v2
 T
E R ( z , t )  E0 R ei (  k1 z t ) xˆ  I
 z
 E   y
B R ( z , t )   0 R
e 1i (  k z  wt )
yˆ 
v1  R
R Interface
Transmitted Wave v1

E T ( z , t )  E 0T ei ( k2 z t ) xˆ 

 E i ( k z  t ) 
B T ( z , t )  0 T
e 2
yˆ 
v2 
At z  0 , the combined field on the left E I  E R and B I  B R , must join the fields on the

right ET & BT , in accordance with the boundary conditions

 ||  || 1 || 1 ||
(i) 1 E1   2 E2 (ii) B1  B2 (iii) E 1  E 2 (iv) B1  B2
1 2
In this case there are no electric component perpendicular to the surface, so (i) & (ii) are
trivial. However (iii) gives
E 0 I  E 0 R  E 0T

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E0 I   0 R   0T
While (iv) gives,   or  0 I   0 R    0T
1v1 1v1 2v2
1v1 1n2
where    .
2v2  2 n1

 1    2 
Solving above two equations we get  0 R   
  0 I ,  0T    0 I .
1    1  
v1 n2
If 1  2 =0   =  (For non-magnetic medium)
v2 n1

 v v   2v2  
  0 R   2 1   0 I ,  0T    0 I
 v2  v1   v1  v2 
Note: Reflected wave is in phase if v2  v1 or n2  n1 and out of phase if

v2  v1 or n2  n1 .

In terms of indices of refraction the real amplitudes are

n1  n2 2n1
0 R  0 I ,  0T  0 I .
n1  n2 n1  n2

1
Since Intensity I   vE02 , then the ratio of the reflected intensity to the incident intensity
2
2 2
I  E  n n 
is the Reflection coefficient R  R   0 R    1 2  .
I I  E0 I   n1  n2 

The ratio of the transmitted intensity to the incident intensity is the Transmission
coefficient
2
I  v E  4n1n2
T  T  2 2  0T    RT 1
I I 1v1  E0 I   n1  n2  2

Example: Calculate the reflection coefficient for light at an air-to-dielectric interface

 1  2  0 , n1  1, n2  1.5  at optical frequency   4 1015 s 1 .

2 2
 n  n   1  1.5 
Solution: Reflection coefficient R   1 2      0.04 or 4%
 n1  n2   1  1.5 
Thus only 4% of light is reflected and 96% is transmitted.
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Institute for NET/JRF, GATE, IIT-JAM, M.Sc. Entrance, JEST, TIFR and GRE in Physics

7.1.2 Oblique Incidence

In oblique incidence an incoming wave 
kR
meets the boundary at an arbitrary

angle  I . Of course, normal incidence is kT
R
really just a special case of oblique T
incidence with  I  0 . Suppose that a z
I
Plane of Incidence
monochromatic plane wave of
frequency  , approaches the interface  1 2
kI
from the left then
Incident Wave
       1 ˆ 
E I (r , t )  E 0 I ei ( k I .r t ) , B I (r , t ) v1
kI  E I 
Reflected Wave
       1 ˆ 
E R (r , t )  E 0 R ei ( k R .r t ) , B R (r , t )  
v1
kR  E R 
Transmitted Wave
       1 ˆ 
E T (r , t )  E 0T ei ( kT .r t ) , B T (r , t ) 
v2

kT  E T 
All three waves have the same frequency  . The three wave numbers are related by
(   kv ) as
v2 n1
k I v1  k R v1  kT v2   or k I  k R 
kT  kT
v1 n2
     
The combined field in medium (1), E I  E R and B I  B R , must join the fields E T & B T
in medium (2), using the boundary conditions
     ||  || 1 || 1 ||
(i) 1 E1   2 E2 (ii) B1  B2 (iii) E 1  E 2 (iv) B1  B2
1 2

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First Law (Plane of Incidence)

The incident, reflected and transmitted wave vectors form a plane (called the plane of
incidence), which also includes normal to the surface.
Second law (Law of Reflection)
The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection i.e.
I  R
Third Law: (Law of Refraction, or Snell’s law)
sin T n1

sin  I n2
7.1.3 Fresnel’s Relation (Parallel and Perpendicular Polarization)
Case-I: (Polarization in the Plane of Incidence) 
kR  
Applying Boundary conditions, we get ER T
  
Reflected and transmitted amplitudes BR kT

    2  R T
E 0 R   E0 I and E 0T   E0 I
T
       z
 I
cos T 1v1 1n2
where   and   I 
cos  I 2v2 2 n1 kI
 1 2
These are known as Fresnel’s equations. I
Notice that transmitted wave is always in phase with the incident one; the reflected wave
is either in phase , if    , or 1800 out phase if    .
The amplitudes of the transmitted and reflected waves depend on the angle of incidence,
because  is a function of  I :
2
n
1   1  sin 2  I
1  sin 2 T  n2 
 
cos  I cos  I

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Brewster’s Angle
At Brewster’s angle (  B ) reflected light is completely extinguished when    , or

1  2
sin 2  B  2
 n1    2
 n 
 2

n2 2
For non-magnetic medium ( 1  2 ), so   , sin 2  B  , and hence
n1 1  2

n2
tan  B  and T  B  90o
n1

Thus at Brewster angle  I  B  reflected and transmitted rays are perpendicular to each

other.
Critical Angle
When light enters from denser to rarer medium ( n1  n 2 ) then after a critical angle ( C )

there is total internal reflection.

sin 900 n1 n2
  sin  c  at  C , T  90o
sin  c n2 n1
Reflection and Transmission Coefficient

The power per unit are striking the interface is S .zˆ . Thus the incident intensity is
1
I I  1v1E02I cos  I ,
2
while reflected and transmitted intensities are
1 1
I R  1v1E02R cos  R and IT   2v2 E02T cos T
2 2
2 2
I  E    
Reflection coefficient R  R   0R   
I I  E0 I      
2 2
I  v  E  cosT  2 
Transmission coefficient T  T  2 2  0T     
I I 1v1  E0 I  cos  I    
 RT 1

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Case-II: (Polarization Perpendicular to plane of Incidence 

kR 
Applying Boundary conditions, we get BR
  
Reflected and transmitted amplitudes ER T kT

  1      2  R T
E 0 R    E 0 I and E 0T    E 0 I T
 1     1    z
I
cos T v n
where   and  11  1 2  
cos  I 2v2 2 n1 kI 1 I 2

I
In this case Brewster’s angle (  B ) is not possible i.e reflected light is never completely

extinguished (since   1 is not possible).

Reflection and Transmission coefficient

The power per unit are striking the interface is S .zˆ . Thus the incident intensity is
1
I I  1v1E02I cos  I ,
2
while reflected and transmitted intensities are
1 1
I R  1v1E02R cos  R and IT   2v2 E02T cos T
2 2
2 2
I  E   1   
Reflection coefficient R  R   0 R   
I I  E0 I   1   
2 2
I  v  E  cosT  2 
Transmission coefficient T  T  2 2  0T     
I I 1v1  E0 I  cos  I  1   
 RT 1

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7.2 Reflection at Conducting Surface (Normal Incidence)

Suppose xy plane forms the boundary between a non-conducting linear medium (1) and a
conductor (2). A plane wave of frequency  , traveling in the z-direction and polarized in
the x direction, approaches the interface from the left then
Incident Wave

E I ( z , t )  E 0 I ei ( k1 z t ) xˆ 

 E i ( k z  t ) 
B I ( z , t )  0 I e 1 yˆ  1
x
2
v1  I T
Reflected Wave v1 v2
 T
E R ( z , t )  E0 R ei (  k1 z t ) xˆ  I
 z
 E   y
B R ( z , t )   0 R
e 1i (  k z  wt )
yˆ 
v1  R
R Interface
v1

Transmitted Wave

E T ( z , t )  E0T ei ( k2 z t ) xˆ 



 k 
B T ( z , t )  2 E 0T ei ( k2 z t ) yˆ 


 

where k2  k2  i 2 where k2 and  2 are real and imaginary part of k2 .
1/ 2 1/ 2
     
2 2
     
k2    1    1 and  2    1    1
2      2     
   
At z  0 , the combined field on the left E I  E R and B I  B R , must join the fields on the

right ET & BT , in accordance with the boundary conditions

 ||  || 1 || 1 ||
(i) 1 E1   2 E2 (ii) B1  B2 (iii) E 1  E 2 (iv) B1  B2
1 2
In this case there are no electric component perpendicular to the surface, so (i) & (ii) are
trivial.
However (iii) gives E 0 I  E 0 R  E 0T

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E0 I   0 R  k
While (iv) gives,   2  0T or  0 I   0 R    0T
1v1 1v1 2
v
where   1 1 k2 .
2

 1      2 
Solving above two equations we get  0 R     0 I ,  0T    0 I .
  1   
1  

Note: (i) For a perfect conductor     , k2       . Thus

 0 R   0 I ,  0T  0 .

In this case wave is totally reflected, with a 1800 phase shift.

2
(ii) For good conductor     , k2   2  .
2

 v 2  
  1 1 1  i   1v1 1  i      1  i  where   1v1 .
 2 2 22 22

Reflection Coefficient

E 1  
2 2 2 2
I  1    i   1    i  1     
R  R  0R    
II E0 I 1   2
 1    i   1    i  1     
2

Example: Calculate the reflection coefficient for light at an air-to-silver interface

1 
 2  0 , 1   0 ,   6  107  1m 1 at optical frequency   4 1015 s 1 .

Solution:   0 c

c
0
  3  108 
 6 10  4 10   29
7 7

20 2 2  4  10  15

Reflection coefficient
2 2
1      2  28   292
R 2
 2
 0.93 or 93% .
1      2  30   292
Thus 93% of light is reflected and only 7% is transmitted.

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