PHYS 5140 Chapter VI

-Electromagnetic waves (Part II)-

Lecturer: Dr. Y. H. Lai

CUHK Department of Physics 2023-2024 (Term 1)

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A useful mathematical statement for the next few slides

If Aeiax  Beibx  Ceicx 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶, 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 are non-zero constants

is true for all x, then 𝑎 = 𝑏 = 𝑐

Similarly, if Aei ( a1 x  a2 y )  Bei (b1 x  b2 y )  Cei (c1 x  c2 y ) 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶, 𝑎1 , 𝑏1 , 𝑐1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑏2 , 𝑐2 , are

non-zero constants

is true for all x and y, then a1  b1  c1

a2  b2  c2

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 Reflection and refraction of waves at oblique incidence

Incident wave (z < 0): 𝑬𝑰 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑬𝟎𝑰 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝐼∙𝑟−𝜔𝑡)

𝑩𝑰 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑩𝟎𝑰 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝐼 ∙𝑟−𝜔𝑡)
where 𝑘𝐼 = 𝑘𝐼𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑘𝐼𝑦 𝑦 + 𝑘𝐼𝑧 𝑧

Reflected wave (z < 0): 𝑬𝑹 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑬𝟎𝑹 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝑅 ∙𝑟−𝜔𝑡)

𝑩𝑹 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑩𝟎𝑹 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝑅 ∙𝑟−𝜔𝑡)
where 𝑘𝑅 = 𝑘𝑅𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑘𝑅𝑦 𝑦 + 𝑘𝑅𝑧 𝑧

Transmitted wave (z > 0): 𝑬𝑻 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑬𝟎𝑻 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝑇 ∙𝑟−𝜔𝑡)

𝑩𝑻 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑩𝟎𝑻 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝑇 ∙𝑟−𝜔𝑡)
Refractive index = 𝑛1 Refractive index = 𝑛2
where 𝑘 𝑇 = 𝑘 𝑇𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑘 𝑇𝑦 𝑦 + 𝑘 𝑇𝑧 𝑧
Note: In the picture above, all the wave vectors lie on
the x-z plane.
𝑛1 𝜔 (see next slide for an explanation)
𝑘𝐼 = 𝑘𝑅 =
𝑐
𝑛2 𝜔
𝑘𝑇 =
𝑐 3
 By the boundary condition (𝑬𝟏 )∥ = (𝑬𝟐 )∥ at the interface (𝑧 = 0):

(𝑬𝟎𝑰 )∥ 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝐼∙𝑟−𝜔𝑡) + (𝑬𝟎𝑹 )∥ 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝑅∙𝑟−𝜔𝑡) = (𝑬𝟎𝑻 )∥ 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝑇∙𝑟−𝜔𝑡)

𝑧=0 𝑧=0

⟹ (𝑬𝟎𝑰 )∥ 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝐼𝑥𝑥+𝑘𝐼𝑦 𝑦) + (𝑬𝟎𝑹 )∥ 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝑅𝑥𝑥+𝑘𝑅𝑦 𝑦) = (𝑬𝟎𝑻 )∥ 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝑇𝑥𝑥+𝑘𝑇𝑦 𝑦) (for any 𝑥 and 𝑦)

𝑘𝐼𝑥 = 𝑘𝑅𝑥 = 𝑘 𝑇𝑥 − −(∗)

⟹
𝑘𝐼𝑦 = 𝑘𝑅𝑦 = 𝑘 𝑇𝑦 − −(∗∗)

It is always possible to orient the coordinate axes such that 𝑘𝐼𝑦 = 0. Then, by eqn. (∗∗), 𝑘𝑅𝑦 and 𝑘 𝑇𝑦 are also zero.

⟹ The incident, reflected, and transmitted wave vectors form a plane (the plane of incidence).

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By eqn. ∗ , 𝑘𝐼𝑥 = 𝑘𝑅𝑥

⟹ 𝑘𝐼 sin 𝜃𝐼 = 𝑘𝑅 sin 𝜃𝑅

⟹ 𝜃𝐼 = 𝜃𝑅

This is the law of reflection.

By eqn. ∗ , 𝑘𝐼𝑥 = 𝑘 𝑇𝑥

⟹ 𝑘𝐼 sin 𝜃𝐼 = 𝑘 𝑇 sin 𝜃𝑇

⟹ 𝑛1 sin 𝜃𝐼 = 𝑛2 sin 𝜃𝑇

This is the law of refraction. (Snell’s law)

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 Two cases in oblique incidence

(1) (2)

kI kI
EI

EI

Incident E field is normal to Incident E field is parallel to

the plane of incidence the plane of incidence

This is called s-polarization This is called p-polarization

• The reflection and transmission coefficients are different for these two cases, except for normal incidence.
 Case I: s-polarization
Boundary conditions:
Note:
(𝑬𝟏)n∥1=E0𝑬 ∥  I  n1E
I 𝟐cos 0I 
0 REcos IE0 Rn2ET0T cosT - 𝐸0𝐼 = |𝑬𝟎𝑰 |, etc
1 1
(𝑩 ) = 𝑩   B0 I cos I  B0 R cos I   B0T cosT - Assume 𝜇1 = 𝜇2 = 𝜇0
𝜇1 𝟏 ∥ 𝜇2 𝟐 ∥

𝑛
By |𝑩| = |𝑬| , n1E0 I cos I  n1E0 R cos I  n2 E0T cosT
𝑐

Solving for reflected and transmitted amplitudes kR B0R

in terms of the incident one: kT

I T B0T
I

kI B0I
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 Case II: p-polarization
Boundary conditions:
Note:
(𝑬𝟏 )∥ = 𝑬𝟐 ∥  E0 I cos  I  E0 R cos  I  ET cos T - 𝐸0𝐼 = |𝑬𝟎𝑰 |, etc
1 1
(𝑩 ) = 𝑩  B0 I  B0 R  B0T - Assume 𝜇1 = 𝜇2 = 𝜇0
𝜇1 𝟏 ∥ 𝜇2 𝟐 ∥

𝑛 n1E0 I  n1E0 R  n2 E0T

By |𝑩| = |𝑬| ,
𝑐

Solving for reflected and transmitted amplitudes

in terms of the incident one: kR
E0T

E0R kT
I T
I

E0I

kI 8
 Brewster angle (for p-polarization only)

For p-polarization, there is no reflection if

This special incidence angle is called the Brewster angle  B

By Snell’s law,
sin T
cos B  cosT  T   / 2   B
sin  B
Hence,

𝑛1 = 1; 𝑛2 = 1.5

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Getting a polarized light from reflection at the Brewster angle:

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 𝑛1 < 𝑛2 vs 𝑛1 > 𝑛2
Case I 𝑛1 < 𝑛2
𝑥
Recall that 𝑘𝐼𝑥 = 𝑘 𝑇𝑥 𝑘𝑇
𝑧
𝑛1 T
which implies 𝑘𝐼 sin 𝜃𝐼 = 𝑘 𝑇 sin 𝜃𝑇 ⟹ sin 𝜃𝑇 = sin 𝜃𝐼
𝑛2 I

𝑘𝐼
The angle of incidence 𝜃𝐼 is what we can control: 0 ≤ 𝜃𝐼 < 𝜋/2
Case II 𝑛1 > 𝑛2
𝑘𝑇
𝑛
If 𝑛1 < 1,
2 T
𝑛1 I
𝑛2
sin 𝜃𝐼 < 1 for any 𝜃𝐼 . ⟹ 𝜃𝑇 always exists.
𝑘𝐼
𝑛
If 𝑛1 > 1,
2 𝑛1 𝜔 𝑛2 𝜔
𝑘𝐼 = 𝑘𝑇 =
𝑐 𝑐
𝑛1 𝑛 𝑛
sin 𝜃𝐼 ≤ 1 only if sin 𝜃𝐼 ≤ 𝑛2. ⟹ 𝜃𝑇 exists only for 𝜃𝐼 ≤ sin−1 (𝑛2 ).
𝑛2 1 1
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 Critical angle

−1
𝑛2 𝜋
When 𝜃𝐼 = sin ( ) , 𝜃𝑇 =
𝑛1 2 𝑥 𝑛1 > 𝑛2
𝑘𝑇
−1
𝑛2 𝑧
It is known as the critical angle: 𝜃𝐶 = sin ( )
𝑛1 T
I

If 𝜃𝐼 > 𝜃𝐶 , 𝜃𝑇 does not exist. But what does it really mean? 𝑘𝐼

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 Total internal reflection
𝑛1 𝜔
𝑘𝐼 = 𝑘𝐼𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑘𝐼𝑧 𝑧 𝑘𝐼 =
𝑐
Recall that 𝑛2 𝜔
𝑘 𝑇 = 𝑘 𝑇𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑘 𝑇𝑧 𝑧 𝑘𝑇 =
𝑐

Note that the condition 𝑘𝐼𝑥 = 𝑘 𝑇𝑥 is true regardless of the value of 𝜃𝐼

𝑛2 𝜔 2
2
𝑘 𝑇𝑧 = − 𝑘 𝑇𝑥 2
𝑐
𝑛2 𝜔 2 𝑛2 𝜔 2
2 2
𝑘 𝑇𝑧 = − 𝑘𝐼𝑥 = − (𝑘𝐼 sin 𝜃𝐼 )2 (Let 𝑘𝐼 = 𝑘𝐼 )
𝑐 𝑐
𝜔 2
= 𝑛2 2 − 𝑛1 2 sin2 𝜃𝐼 < 0 if 𝜃𝐼 > 𝜃𝐶
𝑐

That is, 𝑘 𝑇𝑧 is purely imaginary if 𝜃𝐼 > 𝜃𝐶

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 Evanescent wave
𝜔
Denote 𝑘 𝑇𝑧 = 𝑖𝛽, where 𝛽 = 𝑛1 2 sin2 𝜃𝐼 − 𝑛2 2 (Note: 𝛽 is a real number)
𝑐

⟹ 𝑘 𝑇 = 𝑘 𝑇𝑥 𝑥 + 𝑖𝛽 𝑧 = 𝑘𝐼 sin 𝜃𝐼 𝑥 + 𝑖𝛽 𝑧

⟹ 𝑬𝑻 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑬𝟎𝑻 𝑒 𝑖[(𝑘𝐼 sin 𝜃𝐼 𝑥+𝑖𝛽𝑧)∙𝑟−𝜔𝑡] = 𝑬𝟎𝑻 𝑒 −𝛽𝑧 𝑒 𝑖(𝑘𝐼 sin 𝜃𝐼 𝑥−𝜔𝑡)

It means a solution with the wave amplitude decreases exponentially with z.

The incident wave can only penetrate medium 2 with a length of order 1/β

The wave propagates along x direction, i.e. parallel to the interface.

This is called an evanescent wave.

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 The reflected wave for 𝜃𝐼 > 𝜃𝐶

Consider the case of s-polarization

𝑖𝛽

𝑛1 cos 𝜃𝐼 − 𝑖𝑛2 𝛽
𝐸0𝑅 = 𝐸0𝐼 = 𝑒 𝑖𝜙 𝐸0𝐼
𝑛1 cos 𝜃𝐼 + 𝑖𝑛2 𝛽

Hence there is a phase change of the reflected wave.

2 2
𝐸0𝑅 = 𝐸0𝐼 Reflected intensity = Incidence intensity

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END

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