EM WAVE REFLECTION AT

OBLIQUE INCIDENCE
REFLECTION OF A PLANE WAVE AT OBLIQUE INCIDENCE
ASSUME THAT MEDIUM IS LOSSLESS DIELECTRIC AND CAN EXTEND TO LOSSY MEDIUM BY
REPLACING PERMITTIVITY OF THE MEDIUM. A UNIFORM PLANE WAVE TAKES THE GENERAL
FORM:
Maxwell's equations

The H field corresponding to the E field

The plane defined by the propagation vector k and a unit
normal vector an to the boundary is called the plane of
incidence. The angle θi , between k and an is the angle of
incidence.
Again, both the incident and the reflected waves are in
medium 1 while the transmitted (or refracted wave) is in
medium 2. Let
where ki kr and kt with their normal and tangential components are
shown in Figure:
Since the tangential component of E must be continuous
at the boundary z = 0:

The only way this boundary condition will be satisfied by the waves
in the given below eq.
Must be satisfied at all points on
the Plane at all times, implies that
the spatial (and time) variation of
all field must be same at z=0.
Consequently, we must have the
phase factor, all equal at z=0

for all x and y is that

Condition 1 implies that the frequency is unchanged.
Conditions 2 and 3 require that the tangential components of the
propagation vectors be continuous (called the phase matching
conditions).
This means that the propagation vectors ki , kt , and kr must all lie in
the plane of incidence.
Thus, by conditions 2 and 3,

where θr is the angle of reflection and θt is the angle of transmission.

But for lossless media,
 The angle of reflection
θr equals the angle of
incidence θi as in optics

Snell's law

where u = ω/k is the phase velocity

The refractive indices of the media

 TOTAL
REFELECTION
 Snell's law

where u = ω/k is the phase velocity

The index of refraction of a medium is the ratio of the speed

of light ( here electromagnetic wave) in free space to that in
medium .

Snell’s law states that at an interface between two

dielectric media, the ratio of the sine of the angle of
refraction ( transmission) in medium 2 to the sine of the
angle of incidence in medium 1 is equal to the inverse ratio
of indices of refraction n1/n2
 Intrinsic impedance

For non-magnetic media, 1 = 2 = 0

Intrinsic impedances of the dielectric media. If the medium 1 is free space

Such that εr1 = 1 , n1 = 1 , then above equation reduces to

Since n2 > 1, it is clear that a plane wave incident obliquely at an interface with a denser
medium will be bent toward the normal.
Examine above equation for ε1 > ε2 – that is, when the wave in medium 1 is incident on less
dense medium 2. in that case θt > θi. Since θt increases with θi, an interesting situation
arises when θt = π / 2, at which angle the refracted wave will glaze along the interface. A
further increase in θi would result in no refracted wave and the incident wave is said to be
Totally reflected. The angle of incidence θc ( which corresponds to the threshold of total
Reflection θt = π / 2 is called the critical angle. Substitute θt = π / 2 in the above equation
Which does not yield any a real solution for θt. Although
Sinθt in above equation is still real, Cosθt becomes Plane wave incident at critical
Imaginary when Sinθt > 1. angle ε1 > ε2

In medium 2 the unit vector ant in the direction of propagation of a typical

transmitted ( refracted) wave as shown in above figure.
 Both Et and Ht vary spatially in accordance with the following factor:

For θi > θc,

The upper sign is abandon because
it would lead to the impossible
result of an increasing field as z
increases.

For θi > θc an evanescent wave exists along the interface ( in x-direction)

which is attenuated exponentially ( rapidly) in medium 2 in the normal (z-
direction). This wave is tightly bound to the interface and is called a Surface
wave. It is non-uniform wave. No power is transmitted into medium2 under
these conditions.
PARALLEL POLARIZATION
Lossless dielectric media
Requiring that θr = θi and that the tangential components of E and H be
continuous at the boundary z = 0, we obtain

Use
Phase matching condition
Reflection
coefficient

Transmission
coefficient

Fresnel's equations

Derived using Snell's laws

 Brewster’s angle

From the reflection coefficient expression, it is evident that it is possible to have Γ|| = 0
because the numerator is the difference of two terms.

Under this condition, there is no reflection (Er0 = 0) and the incident angle at which
this takes place is called the Brewster angle θB||.

The Brewster angle is also known as the polarizing angle because an arbitrarily
polarized incident wave will be reflected with only the component of E perpendicular to
the plane of incidence.

The Brewster effect is utilized in a laser tube where quartz windows are set at the
Brewster angle to control polarization of emitted light.

The Brewster angle is obtained by setting θi = θB|| when Γ|| = 0

It is of practical value to consider the case when the dielectric media are
not only lossless but nonmagnetic as well—that is, µ1 = µ2 = µ0

Showing that there is a Brewster angle for any combination of ε1

and ε2.
PERPENDICULAR POLARIZATION
Lossless dielectric media
Requiring that θr = θi and that the tangential components of E and
H be continuous at the boundary z = 0, we obtain

Use
Phase matching condition
 Requiring that θr = θi and that the tangential components of E and
H be continuous at the boundary z = 0, we obtain

Fresnel's equations
For no reflection, ( or Er = 0). This is the same as the case of total transmission

Although this situation is theoretically possible, it is rare in practice.

 FOR CONDUCTING BOUNDARY:
Electric Field is Perpendicular To The Plane Of Incidence

Total electric field vanish at boundary, so negative field

 TOTAL ELECTRIC FIELD IN MEDIUM 1

TOTAL MAGNETIC FIELD IN MEDIUM 1

OBSERVATIONS
The long (thick) dashed lines represent the
plane wave crests with E-vector out of the
page, and short (thin) dashed lines represent
Wave troughs with E-vector into the page. At
the conducting surfaces, the reflected E-vector
has a 1800 phase change, cancelling the
incident E-vector; hence the intersections of
the long and short dashed lines (such as
points O, A, and A’’ ) are locations of zero
electric intensity
intensity..

The intersections of the long dashed lines (such

as points B) are locations of maximum electric
intensity directed out of the page
page, and the
intersections of the short dashed lines (such as
points B’) are locations of maximum electric
intensity directed into the page.
PARALLEL POLARIZATION
 At the surface of the good/perfect conductor, z = 0, the tangential components
(the x-component) of the total electric field intensity must vanish for all x, or
Eix(x, 0) + Erx(x, 0) = 0

which requires Er0 = - Ei0 and θi = θr

Total electric field intensity in medium 1

Total magnetic field

intensity in medium 1
OBSERVATIONS