Quiz 3

Q1. Total internal reflection

In lectures, we saw that total reflection of EM waves occurs at the boundary between two dielectrics for the case of
grazing incidence. Similarly, total internal reflection can occur for EM waves in a dielectric surrounded by a medium
with a lower refractive index (i.e. n1 > n2 ). In this case, there is a critical incidence angle crit above which the
transmission angle becomes imaginary and EM waves will be completely reflected.
(a) Write down an expression for crit and calculate its value for the following two cases: 1. n1 = 1.6, n2 = 1.5 (typical
refractive indices for the core and cladding of optical fibres); 2. n1 = 2.6 and n2 = 1 (diamond surrounded by air).
Answer crit = sin 1 (n2 /n1 ).
crit = 69.6 (or 1.22 radians) for optical fibre.
crit = 22.6 (or 0.395 radians) for diamond.
(b) Assuming a standard monochromatic complex plane wave solution for the transmitted wave of the form
T = E0T exp i
E

where

= kT r

!t +

explain in your own words why no transmitted wave can penetrate medium 2. (Hint: assume the plane of incidence
is the x z plane and consider the phase of the complex wavefunction.)
T is attenuated in the z-direction and is directed parallel to the interface,
Answer By Snells law, cos T is imaginary, so E
in the x-direction. Thus, no EM wave can penetrate into medium 2 and no energy is propagated there (this is an
evanescent wave).
Q2. Gauge transformations
Which of the following potentials are in the Coulomb gauge, the Lorenz gauge, both or neither:
(a)
V =0

A(x, t) =

(0 k/4c)(ct
0

|x|)2 z

,
,

Answer dV /dt = 0, r A = 0 =) BOTH

(b)
V =0
Answer dV /dt = 0, r A =

(qt/0 ) 3 (r) 6=

A(r, t) =

1 qt
r
40 r2

0 0 dV /dt =) NEITHER

(c)
V =0
Answer dV /dt = 0, r A = 0 =) BOTH

A(x, t) = A0 sin(kx

!t)
y

|x| < ct
|x| > ct