Phy501, HW4

Due Date: 20th November before midterm

The second midterm will be held on 20th Nov. in the class.

Problems

1. [20 points] In the class, we derived the expressions for the reflection and transmission
amplitudes and then found reflectance and transmittance for the TE polarization state
of an obliquely incident plane wave upon a planar interface between two different
dielectric-magnetic mediums. Following the same procedure, derive the reflection and
transmission amplitude of the magnetic field for the TM polarized incident plane wave
from a planar interface located at z = 0. Now, compute the reflectance as the ratio of
the z components of the time-averaged Poynting vector of the reflected and incident
plane wave. Similarly, compute the transmittance.

2. [10 points] Using the reflection/transmission amplitudes of the TE and TM cases,

find the reflection and transmission coefficients for the right circularly polarized plane
wave incident obliquely upon an interface of a dielectric-magnetic medium.

3. [10 points] Consider a linearly polarized (polarization direction does not matter)
normally incident upon silicon from air. Consider silicon to be infinite. Assuming the
wavelength of the incident wave to be 500 nm and the relative permittivity of silicon to
be (4 i0.1)2 , compute the fraction of the incident power absorbed by silicon. Recall
that the relative permittivity of air is 1.

4. [15 points] Suppose that a linearly polarized plane wave is incident upon a planar
interface separating two dielectric mediums (i.e., 1 = 2 = 1 but 1 6= 2 6= 1). The
plane wave is niether TE nor TM but its electric field makes an angle of i with the
incidence plane. Using the results of TE and TM cases, show that the electric field of
the reflected wave makes an angle r with the incidence plane and the electric field of
the transmitted wave makes an angle t with the incidence plane where
cos(i t )
tan r = tan i
cos(i + t )
and
tan t = cos(i t ) tan i .

1
 This rotation of the polarization direction of the reflected light is the basis of ellip-
sometry used to measure the refractive index of a material.

5. [15 points] Consider the reflection of linearly polarized light when the light is incident
upon an interface separating two non-magnetic mediums when the light is incident
from a medium with higher refractive index onto a medium with lower refractive
index (i.e., 1 = 2 = 1 but 1 > 2 ). Compute the reflection coefficients for both the
TE and TM polarized wave when the incidence angle is greater than the critical angle
for total internal reflection. (Note: The reflection coefficients are not unity though
their magnitude is unity! Hint: The transmitted wave is not identically zero but is an
evanescent wave with complex wavenumber.)

6. [25] Consider a point electric dipole current density

J(r, t) = z p0 cos(t) (x)(y)(z)

and (r, t) = 0 located at the origin. Find the vector magnetic potential for this
source and compute electric and magnetic fields. What are the approximate fields
far far away from the dipole? Compute the time-averaged Poynting vector for the
approximate fields. Find the polarization state of the radiation at a point on the z
axis, at a point x axis, and at a point at y axis. (Note: This problem is very important
in formulating the scattering problems from small dielectric particles since the particles
can be assumed to be almost point-like and an incident light make them oscillating
dipoles which then radiate like point dipoles.)

Practice problems: For the last two lectures on the radiation by moving charges,
solve the relevant problems at the end of the uploaded notes.