EM Propagation Oblique

Electromagnetic Fields
Oblique incidence: Interface between dielectric media

Consider a planar interface between two dielectric media. A plane
wave is incident at an angle from medium 1.
The interface plane defines the boundary between the media.

The plane of incidence contains the propagation vector and is
both perpendicular to the interface plane and to the phase planes
of the wave.
Medium 1
ε1 = εr1 εo
Plane of incidence µ1 = µr1 µo
G
Phase β
plane θi θr
Medium 2
Interface plane
ε2 = εr2 εo
µ2 = µr2 µo
θt
© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 165

There are two elementary orientations (polarizations) for the

electromagnetic fields:
Perpendicular Polarization
The electric field is perpendicular to the plane of incidence and
the magnetic field is parallel to the plane of incidence.
The fields are configured as in the Transverse Electric (TE)
modes.
Parallel Polarization
The magnetic field is perpendicular to the plane of incidence
and the electric field is parallel to the plane of incidence.
The fields are configured as in the Transverse Magnetic (TM)
modes.
Any plane wave with general field orientation can be obtained by

superposition of two waves with perpendicular and parallel
polarization.

Perpendicular (TE) polarization

G
Hi
Reflected
G βz wave
G
Incident Ei
wave × G βr
G Hr
βx βi
×G
θi θr
Medium 1 ε1 = εr1 εo
Er
µ1 = µr1 µo
×
y z
µ2 = µr2 µo G G
Et Ht
θt ×
G Transmitted
βt wave

The electric field phasors for the perpendicular polarization, with

reference to the system of coordinates in the figure, are given by
G − j βix ⋅ x − j βiz ⋅ z
Ei = E yi e iˆy
G − j β rx ⋅ x − j β rz ⋅ z
E r = E yr e iˆy
G − j βt x ⋅ x − j βt z ⋅ z
E t = E yt e iˆy
The propagation vector components in medium 1 are expressed as

G
β i = βix2 + βiz2 = β 1= ω µ1ε1
βix = β 1cos θi βiz = β 1sin θi
G 2 2
β r = β rx + β rz = β1
β rx = − β 1cos θ r β rz = β 1sin θ r
The propagation vector components in medium 2 are expressed as

G
β t = βtx2 + βtz2 = β 2= ω µ2ε 2
βtx = β 2 cos θt βtz = β 2 sin θt
The magnetic field components can be obtained as

G G
G βi × E i E yi − j βix x − j βiz z
Hi =
ω µ1
=
η1
( − sin θi ix + cosθi iz ) e
ˆ ˆ
G G
G βr × Er E yr − j β rx x − j β rz z
Hr =
ω µ1
=−
η1
( sin θr ix + cosθr iz ) e
ˆ ˆ
G G
G βt × E t E yt − j βt x x − j βt z z
Ht =
ω µ2
=
η2
( − sin θt ix + cosθt iz ) e
ˆ ˆ

Assuming that the amplitude of the incident electric field is given,

to completely specify the problem we need to find the amplitude of
reflected and transmitted electric field.
The boundary condition at the interface (x = 0) states that the

tangential electric field must be continuous. Because of the
perpendicular polarization, the tangential field is also the total field
− j βi z z − j β rz z − j βt z z
x = 0) E yi e + E yr e = E yt e
The relation above must be valid for any choice of “z” and we must
have (phase conservation law)
βiz = β rz = βtz
The first equality indicates that the reflected angle is the same as
the incident angle.
βiz = β rz ⇒ β1 sin θi = β1 sin θ r ⇒ θ i = θr
The second equality provides the transmitted angle
βiz = βtz ⇒ β1 sin θi = β 2 sin θt
−1
 µ1 ε1 
⇒ θ t = sin  sin θ i  Snell's Law
 µ 2 ε2 
 
Since we have also
− j βi z z − j β rz z − j βt z z
e =e =e
the boundary condition for the electric field becomes
E yi + E yr = E yt

The tangential magnetic field must also be continuous at the

interface. This applies in our case to the z−components
Hzi + = Hzt
Hzr
Ey i Ey r Ey t
cos θi − cos θi = cos θt
η1 η1 η2
η1 cos θt
⇒ Ey i − Ey r = Ey t
η2 cos θi
Solution of the system of boundary equations gives
E yr η2 cos θi − η1 cos θt
Γ⊥ ( E ) = = Reflection coefficient
E yi η2 cos θi + η1 cos θt
E yt
2η2 cos θi
τ ⊥ (E) = = Transmission coefficient
E yi η2 cos θi + η1 cos θt
For the magnetic field, we can define the reflection coefficient as

H zr
Hr
Γ⊥ ( H ) = =−
H zi Hi
In terms of electric field, the magnetic field components are
− E yr
H zr = cos θi = − H r cos θi
η1
E yi
H zi = cos θi = H i cos θi
η1
The reflection coefficient for the magnetic field is then
−Ey r η1 cos θt − η2 cos θi

Γ⊥ ( H ) = = −Γ ⊥ ( E ) =
Ey i η2 cos θi + η1 cos θt

The transmission coefficient is defined as
Ht
τ ⊥ (H ) =
Hi
The magnetic field components are
Ey t
Ht =
η2
Ey i
Hi =
η1
The transmission coefficient for the magnetic field is then
H t η1 2η1 cos θi
τ ⊥ (H ) = = τ ⊥ (E) =
H i η2 η2 cos θi + η1 cos θt

Parallel (TM) polarization
Incident G
wave Hi βz G
G ×
Reflected
wave βr
Ei G G
βi Hr
βx
×
θi θr G
Medium 1 ε1 = εr1 εo Er
µ1 = µr1 µo
×
y z
µ2 = µr2 µo
θt × G Transmitted
G HG t wave
Et βt
x

The magnetic field phasors for the parallel polarization are given by
G − j βix ⋅ x − j βiz ⋅ z
Hi = H yi e iˆy
G − j β rx ⋅ x − j β rz ⋅ z
H r = H yr e iˆy
G − j βt x ⋅ x − j βt z ⋅ z
H t = H yt e iˆy
and the electric field components can be obtained as

G G
G βi × Hi − j βix x − j βiz z
Ei = − = η1H yi ( sin θi ix − cos θi iz ) e
ˆ ˆ
ωε1
G G
G βr × Hr − j β rx x − j β rz z
Er =− = η1H yr ( sin θ r iˆx + cos θ r iˆz ) e
ωε1
G G
G βt × H t − j βt x x − j βt z z
Et =− = η2 H yt ( sin θt ix − cos θt iz ) e
ˆ ˆ
ωε 2

Also for parallel polarization one can verify that the same
relationships between angles apply, as found earlier for the
perpendicular polarization, including Snell’s law
θi = θ r
−1
 µ1 ε1 
θ t = sin  sin θ i 
 µ 2 ε2 
 
We have again two boundary conditions at the interface. One

condition is for continuity of the tangential magnetic field
H yi + H yr = H yt

A second condition is for continuity of the tangential electric field

E zi + E zr = E zt
−η1 cos θi H yi + η1 cos θi H yr = −η2 cos θt H yt
η2 cos θt
⇒ H yi − H yr = H yt
η1 cos θi
From the equations provided by the boundary conditions we obtain
the reflection and transmission coefficients for the magnetic field of
a wave with parallel polarization as
H yr
η1 cos θi − η2 cos θt
Γ& ( H ) = =
H yi η1 cos θi + η2 cos θt
H yt
2η1 cos θi
τ& (H ) = =
H yi η1 cos θi + η2 cos θt
The reflection coefficient for the electric field is defined as
E zr Er
Γ& ( E ) = =−
E zi Ei
The tangential components of the electric field can be expressed in

terms of magnetic field as
E zr = Er cos θi = η1 cos θi H yr
E zi = − Ei cos θi = −η1 cos θi H yi
The reflection coefficient for the electric field is
E zr H yr η2 cos θt − η1 cos θi
Γ& ( E ) = =− = −Γ& ( H ) =
E zi H yi η1 cos θi + η2 cos θt

The transmission coefficient for the electric field is defined as

Et
τ& (E) =
Ei
The electric field components are given by
E t = η2 H yt
Ei = η1H yi
The transmission coefficient for the electric field becomes
Et η2 H yt η2
τ& (E) = = = τ& (H )
Ei η1H yi η1
η2 2η1 cos θi 2η2 cos θi
= =
η1 η1 cos θi + η2 cos θt η1 cosθi + η2 cosθt

Considerable simplifications are possible for the common case of

nonmagnetic dielectric media with
µ1 = µ2 = µo
First of all, Snell’s law becomes
−1
 µ1 ε1  −1  ε1 
θ t = sin  sin θ i  = sin  sin θ i 
 µ 2 ε2   ε2 
 
or, equivalently
sin θi ε 2 n2
= = (n = index of refraction )
sin θt ε1 n1
Snell’s law provides then a useful recipe to express the reflection
and transmission coefficients only with angles, thus eliminating the
explicit dependence on medium impedance.

After some trigonometric manipulations, we obtain the following

table of simplified coefficients for electric and magnetic field
sin (θi − θt )
Γ ⊥ ( E ) = −Γ ⊥ ( H ) = −
sin (θi + θt )
tan (θi − θt )
Γ& ( E ) = −Γ& ( H ) = −
tan (θi + θt )
ε1 2sin θt cos θi
τ ⊥ (E) = τ ⊥ (H ) =
ε 2 sin (θi + θt )
τ& (E) = τ& (H ) =
ε 2 sin (θi + θt ) cos (θi − θt )

Power flow
The time-average power flow normal to the interface must be

continuous. We can express this as
1 Ei2 1 Er2 1 Et2

cos θi − cos θi = cos θt
2 η1 2 η1 2 η2
incident power − reflected power = transmitted power
We define the reflection and transmission coefficients for the time-

average power as
reflected power Er2
R= =
incident power Ei2
transmitted power Et2 η1 cos θt
T= = 2
incident power Ei η2 cos θi

The following conversion formulas relate power and electric field

coefficients
R = Γ2 ( E )
η1 cos θt
2
T = τ (E)
η2 cos θi
Note that reflection and transmission coefficients for the time-

average power are always real positive quantities. The following
power conservation condition is always verified
R +T =1
Since the power flow normal to the interface is considered, the
results obtained above apply equally to perpendicular and parallel
polarization.

Non−magnetic perfect dielectric media
Case ε 2 > ε1
G G
βi βr
θi θi
µ1 = µo
×
y G z
µ2 = µo βt
θt
x
From Snell’s law
ε1 sin θi = ε 2 sin θt ε 2 > ε1 ⇒ θt < θi

Since θ t < θ i there is always a transmitted (refracted) beam.
The transmission coefficients are always positive
τ ⊥ (E) = τ ⊥ (H ) = >0
ε 2 sin (θi + θt )
τ& (E) = τ& (H ) = >0
ε 2 sin (θi + θt ) cos (θi − θt )
⇒ transmitted and incident wave are in phase at the boundary.
E yt E yi H zi
τ ⊥ (E) = ×
E yi ×
E yt H zt

Perpendicular polarization
sin (θi − θt ) sin (θi − θt )

Γ⊥ ( E ) = − Γ⊥ ( H ) =
sin (θi + θt ) sin (θi + θt )
The reflection coefficient for the electric field is always negative
E yi and E yr have always phase difference of 180°
The reflection coefficient for the magnetic field is always positive
H zi and H zr are always in phase
E yr H zr E yi E yr H zr
Γ⊥ ( E ) = Γ⊥ ( H ) = H zi
E yi H zi ×

Parallel polarization
tan (θi − θt ) tan (θi − θt )
Γ& ( E ) = − Γ& ( H ) =
tan (θi + θt ) tan (θi + θt )
When θi + θt < 90° ⇒ tan (θi + θt ) > 0

E zi and E zr have phase difference of 180°
H yi and H yr are in phase
Ezi H yi H yr Ezr
× ×
When θi + θt > 90° ⇒ tan (θi + θt ) < 0

E zi and E zr are in phase
H yi and H yr have phase difference of 180°
Ezi H yi Ezr H yr
×

When θi + θt = 90° ⇒ tan (θi + θt ) → ∞
the reflection coefficients vanish (TOTAL TRANSMISSION)

tan (θi − θt ) tan (θi − θt )
Γ& ( E ) = − → 0 ; Γ& ( H ) = →0
For θi + θt = 90° ⇒ θi = θ B (Brewster angle)

and ⇒ cosθ B = sin θt
From Snell’s law
sin θ B sin θ B ε2 −1 ε 2
= = tan θ B = ⇒ θ B = tan
sin θt cos θ B ε1 ε1

Case ε 2 < ε1
G G
βi βr
θi θi
µ1 = µo
× G
y
βt z
µ2 = µo
θt
x
From Snell’s law
ε1 sin θi = ε 2 sin θt ε 2 < ε1 ⇒ θt > θi

For angles of incidence such that
sin θt < 1
we have for perpendicular polarization
sin (θi − θt ) sin (θt − θi )

Γ⊥ ( E ) = − = >0
E yi and E yr are always in phase
sin (θi − θt ) sin (θt − θi )
Γ⊥ ( H ) = =− <0
H zi and H zr have always phase difference of 180°
E yi H zi H zr E yr
× ×

For parallel polarization

tan (θ i − θ t ) tan (θ t − θ i )
Γ& ( E ) = − =
tan (θ i + θ t ) tan (θ i + θ t )
tan (θ i − θ t ) tan (θ t − θ i )
Γ& ( H ) = =−
tan (θ i + θ t ) tan (θ i + θ t )
When θi + θt < 90° ⇒ tan (θi + θt ) > 0

E H yi Ezr H yr
E zi and E zr are in phase zi
×
H yi and H yr have phase difference of 180°
When θi + θt > 90° ⇒ tan (θi + θt ) < 0
E zi and E zr have phase difference of 180°
H yi and H yr are in phase E zi H yi H yr Ezr
× ×

When θi + θt = 90° ⇒ tan (θi + θt ) → ∞
Also in this case the reflection coefficients vanish and we have

TOTAL TRANSMISSION
tan (θt − θi ) tan (θt − θi )

Γ& ( E ) = → 0 ; Γ& ( H ) = − →0
Total transmission occurs again, for parallel polarization only, at

the Brewster angle
−1 ε2
θi = θ B = tan
ε1

When
ε2 ε2
sin θi = sin θt = ⇒ sin θt = 1 ⇒ θt = 90°
ε1 ε1
we have a limit condition for TOTAL REFLECTION, valid for both
polarizations. This particular angle of incidence is called
−1 ε2
critical angle θi = θc = sin
ε1
θc
θ t = 90°

For angles of incidence beyond the critical angle
ε1
θi > θc ⇒ sin θt = sin θi >1
ε2
⇒ cos θt = imaginary
± , choose "− "

⇓ ε1 ε2
cos θt = − 1 − sin 2 θt = − j 2
sin θi −
ε2 ε1
The negative sign is selected, in order to obtain the proper wave

vector in medium 2, as shown later.

The reflection and transmission coefficients become complex
cos θi + j sin 2 θi − ε 2 ε1
Γ ⊥ ( E ) = −Γ ⊥ ( H ) =
cos θi − j sin 2 θi − ε 2 ε1
ε2
− cos θi − j sin 2 θi − ε 2 ε1
ε1
Γ& ( E ) = −Γ& ( H ) =
ε2
cos θi − j sin 2 θi − ε 2 ε1
ε1
ε1 2cos θi
τ ⊥ (E) = τ ⊥ (H ) =
ε 2 cos θ − j sin 2 θ − ε ε
i i 2 1
ε1 2 ε 2 / ε1 cos θi
τ& (E) = τ& (H ) =
ε 2 ε 2 cos θ − j sin 2 θ − ε ε
i i 2 1
ε1
If we consider the coefficients for time-average power flow, we

have, for both polarizations
R = Γ ( E ) ⋅ Γ* ( E ) = 1
T = 1− R = 0
This means that incident and reflected waves carry the same time-
average power, and no power is transmitted to medium 2. But this
does not mean that the field disappears in medium 2. The
instantaneous power that enters medium 2 is eventually reflected
back to medium 1.
The electric field phasor of the transmitted wave has the form
− j βt x ⋅ x − j βt z ⋅ z
E t = Et e e = Et e− j β 2 cosθt ⋅ x e− j β 2 sin θt ⋅ z

The wave vector components are

 ε1 2 ε2 
β 2 cos θt = ω µoε 2  − j sin θi − 
 ε2 ε1 
ε2 22 ε2
= − jω µoε1 sin θi − = − j β1 sin θi − = − jα t
ε1 ε1
ε1
β 2 sin θt = ω µoε 2 sin θi = β1 sin θi = βi z
ε2
The field in medium 2 corresponds to a surface wave, moving along
the z−direction and exponentially decaying (evanescent) along the
x−direction
− j ( − jαt ⋅ x ) − j βi z ⋅ z −α t ⋅ x − j βi z ⋅ z
E t = Et e e = Et e e

The surface wave moves parallel to the surface, with a phase

velocity equal to the apparent phase velocity along z of the incident
wave in medium 1
v p1
v p2 = = v pz > v p1
sin θi
For the surface wave, planes of constant amplitude are parallel and
planes of constant phase are normal to the interface. These planes
do not coincide, therefore the surface wave is a nontransverse
wave.
θi > θc
Constant amplitude planes
Et
Constant phase planes

x

If you consider a beam incident on the interface, it is found that the

power is totally reflected but after penetrating for some distance
into medium 2. The reflected beam emerges displaced by a
distance D (called Goos-Hänchen shift, discovered in 1947)
D
θi > θc
From experiments, the displacement is found to be

2π 2π
D ≈ 0.52 ε 2 = 0.52 ε 2
2 ε2 αt
β1 sin θi −
ε1
Examples:
Medium 1
θB = ? air µ = µo
ε = εo
Medium 2
water µ = µo
θ B = tan −1 ε 2
ε1
ε = {
80ε o microwaves
1.8ε o optical
θ B = tan −1 80 ≅ 83.6° microwaves

θ B = tan −1 1.8 ≅ 53.3° optical

At the Brewster angle
θi + θt = θ B + θt = 90°
6.38° microwaves
⇒ θt ≅ 
36.7° optical
Verification with Snell’s law
ε1 sin θ B = ε 2 sin θt
−1  sin θ B  6.38° microwaves
θt = sin  ≅
 ε 2  36.7° optical

Medium 1
water µ = µo
θB = ?
ε = {80ε o microwaves
1.8ε o optical
Medium 2
air µ = µo
−1 ε2
θ B = tan ε = εo
ε1
−1 1
θ B = tan ≅ 6.38° microwaves
80
−1 1
θ B = tan ≅ 36.7° optical
1.8
At the Brewster angle
θi + θt = θ B + θt = 90°
83.6° microwaves
⇒ θt ≅ 
53.3° optical
Verification with Snell’s law
ε1 sin θ B = ε 2 sin θt
−1  sin θ B ε 2  83.6° microwaves
θt = sin  ≅
 ε o  53.3° optical

Medium 1
θc = ? air µ = µo
ε = εo
Medium 2
−1 ε2 water µ = µo
θc = sin
{
ε1 80ε o microwaves
ε =
1.8ε o optical
The total reflection angle does not exist since
ε 2 > ε1

Medium 1
water µ = µo
θc = ?
ε = {80ε o microwaves
1.8ε o optical
Medium 2
−1 ε2
θc = sin air µ = µo
ε1
ε = εo
−1 1
θc = sin ≅ 6.4193° microwaves
80
−1 1
θc = sin ≅ 48.19° optical
1.8

Medium 1
θ i = 60° µ = µo
ε = 4ε o
Medium 2
air µ = µo
ε = εo
Consider a perpendicularly polarized wave.
Find the Brewster angle and the critical angle:
−1 1 −1  1 
θ B = tan = tan   ≈ 26.565°
4 2
−1 1 −1  1 
θc = sin = sin   = 30°
4  2
Find the components of the incident propagation vector and of

the x-component of the transmitted propagation vector in terms
of
βo = ω µoε o
2βo
βix = β1 cos θi = ω µo 4ε o cos 60° = = βo
2
3
βiz = β1 sin θi = ω µo 4ε o sin 60° = 2 β o = 3β o
2
βtx = βt2 − βtz2 βt = β o βtz = βiz = 3β o
βtx = ±
N β o2 − 3β o2 = − j 2β o = − jα t
choose
"−"

In the second medium, find the distance at which the field

strength is 1/e of that at the interface
1 1
d= =
αt 2β o
What is the value of the magnitude of the reflection coefficient at
the interface?
The reflection coefficient is a complex quantity when the incident

angle exceeds the critical angle. Because of total reflection we
know that it must be
Γ⊥ ( E ) = 1
since the time-average power reflection coefficient is
R = Γ⊥ ( E ) 2 = 1

EM Propagation Oblique

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Electromagnetic Fields

Oblique incidence: Interface between dielectric media

 The interface plane defines the boundary between the media.

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 165

There are two elementary orientations (polarizations) for the

Any plane wave with general field orientation can be obtained by

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 166

Perpendicular (TE) polarization

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 167

The electric field phasors for the perpendicular polarization, with

The propagation vector components in medium 1 are expressed as

The propagation vector components in medium 2 are expressed as

The magnetic field components can be obtained as

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 169

Assuming that the amplitude of the incident electric field is given,

The boundary condition at the interface (x = 0) states that the

The second equality provides the transmitted angle

βiz = βtz ⇒ β1 sin θi = β 2 sin θt

the boundary condition for the electric field becomes

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 171

The tangential magnetic field must also be continuous at the

For the magnetic field, we can define the reflection coefficient as

In terms of electric field, the magnetic field components are

−Ey r η1 cos θt − η2 cos θi

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 173

The transmission coefficient is defined as

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 174

Parallel (TM) polarization

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 175

and the electric field components can be obtained as

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 176

We have again two boundary conditions at the interface. One

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 177

A second condition is for continuity of the tangential electric field

The reflection coefficient for the electric field is defined as

The tangential components of the electric field can be expressed in

The reflection coefficient for the electric field is

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 179

The transmission coefficient for the electric field is defined as

The transmission coefficient for the electric field becomes

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 180

Considerable simplifications are possible for the common case of

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 181

After some trigonometric manipulations, we obtain the following

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 182

The time-average power flow normal to the interface must be

1 Ei2 1 Er2 1 Et2

We define the reflection and transmission coefficients for the time-

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 183

The following conversion formulas relate power and electric field

Note that reflection and transmission coefficients for the time-

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 184

Non−magnetic perfect dielectric media

From Snell’s law

ε1 sin θi = ε 2 sin θt ε 2 > ε1 ⇒ θt < θi

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 185

Since θ t < θ i there is always a transmitted (refracted) beam.

The transmission coefficients are always positive

⇒ transmitted and incident wave are in phase at the boundary.

© Amanogawa, 2006 – Digital Maestro Series 186

sin (θi − θt ) sin (θi − θt )

 The reflection coefficient for the electric field is always negative

E yi and E yr have always phase difference of 180°

 The reflection coefficient for the magnetic field is always positive

The interface plane defines the boundary between the media.

The reflection coefficient for the electric field is always negative

The reflection coefficient for the magnetic field is always positive

Find the Brewster angle and the critical angle:

Find the components of the incident propagation vector and of

In the second medium, find the distance at which the field