Physics of Reflections and Refractions

Snell's Laws

  • Illustrates the behavior of a wave (light) as it transitions between two media with different properties.

  • Key parameters:

    • θi\theta_i: Angle of incidence.
    • θr\theta_r: Angle of reflection.
    • θt\theta_t: Angle of refraction.
    • kik_i: Wave vector of the incident wave.
    • krk_r: Wave vector of the reflected wave.
    • ktk_t: Wave vector of the transmitted wave.
    • ϵ<em>1,μ</em>1\epsilon<em>1, \mu</em>1: Permittivity and permeability of medium 1.
    • ϵ<em>2,μ</em>2\epsilon<em>2, \mu</em>2: Permittivity and permeability of medium 2.

Angles of Incidence, Reflection & Refraction

  • Snell's Law of Reflection: The angle of reflection equals the angle of incidence.

    • θ<em>i=θ</em>r\theta<em>i = \theta</em>r (8.28a)(8.28a)
  • Snell's Law of Refraction: Relates the sine of the angles of incidence and refraction to the ratio of phase velocities in the two media.

    • sinθ<em>tsinθ</em>i=μ<em>1ϵ</em>1μ<em>2ϵ</em>2=v<em>p1v</em>p2\frac{\sin \theta<em>t}{\sin \theta</em>i} = \sqrt{\frac{\mu<em>1 \epsilon</em>1}{\mu<em>2 \epsilon</em>2}} = \frac{v<em>{p1}}{v</em>{p2}} (8.28b)(8.28b)

Nonmagnetic Media

  • Index of Refraction (n): Defined as the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum (c) to the phase velocity (vpv_p) in the medium.

    • n=cv<em>p=μ</em>rϵ<em>r=μϵμ</em>0ϵ0n = \frac{c}{v<em>p} = \sqrt{\mu</em>r \epsilon<em>r} = \sqrt{\frac{\mu \epsilon}{\mu</em>0 \epsilon_0}} (8.29)(8.29)
  • Rewriting Snell's Law of Refraction: Using the index of refraction.

    • sinθ<em>tsinθ</em>i=n<em>1n</em>2=μ<em>r1ϵ</em>r1μ<em>r2ϵ</em>r2\frac{\sin \theta<em>t}{\sin \theta</em>i} = \frac{n<em>1}{n</em>2} = \sqrt{\frac{\mu<em>{r1} \epsilon</em>{r1}}{\mu<em>{r2} \epsilon</em>{r2}}} (8.30)(8.30)
  • For Nonmagnetic Materials (μ<em>r1=μ</em>r2=1\mu<em>{r1} = \mu</em>{r2} = 1):

    • sinθ<em>tsinθ</em>i=n<em>1n</em>2=ϵ<em>r1ϵ</em>r2\frac{\sin \theta<em>t}{\sin \theta</em>i} = \frac{n<em>1}{n</em>2} = \sqrt{\frac{\epsilon<em>{r1}}{\epsilon</em>{r2}}} (8.31)(8.31)

Refraction Behavior

  • Inward Refraction:

    • Occurs when a wave enters a more dense medium (n<em>1<n</em>2n<em>1 < n</em>2).
    • The angle of refraction is smaller than the angle of incidence (θ<em>t<θ</em>i\theta<em>t < \theta</em>i).
  • Outward Refraction:

    • Occurs when a wave enters a less dense medium (n<em>1>n</em>2n<em>1 > n</em>2).
    • The angle of refraction is larger than the angle of incidence (θ<em>t>θ</em>i\theta<em>t > \theta</em>i).

Total Internal Reflection

  • Critical Angle: The angle of incidence at which the refraction angle is 90 degrees.

  • Total Internal Reflection: When the angle of incidence exceeds the critical angle, the wave is totally reflected back into the original medium.

    • Surface waves exist on the transmission side.
    • The reflection coefficient (Γ\Gamma) equals 1 (Γ=1\Gamma = 1).

Optical Fiber

  • Components:

    • Fiber core (index of refraction nfn_f).
    • Cladding (index of refraction ncn_c).
    • Surrounding medium (index of refraction n0n_0).
  • Acceptance Cone: Defines the range of angles within which light can enter the fiber and be guided through it via total internal reflection.

  • Waveguiding: Waves can be guided along optical fibers due to successive internal reflections.

Example: Light Beam Passing Through a Slab

  • Setup: A dielectric slab (index of refraction n<em>2n<em>2) surrounded by a medium with index of refraction n</em>1n</em>1.

  • Condition: If the incidence angle (θ<em>i\theta<em>i) is less than the critical angle (θ</em>c\theta</em>c), the emerging beam is parallel to the incident beam.

  • Solution:

    • At the upper surface: sinθ<em>2sinθ</em>1=n<em>1n</em>2\frac{\sin \theta<em>2}{\sin \theta</em>1} = \frac{n<em>1}{n</em>2} (8.33)(8.33)
    • At the lower surface: sinθ<em>3sinθ</em>2=n<em>2n</em>1\frac{\sin \theta<em>3}{\sin \theta</em>2} = \frac{n<em>2}{n</em>1} (8.34)(8.34)
    • Combining the equations: sinθ<em>3=n</em>2n<em>1sinθ</em>2=n<em>2n</em>1n<em>1n</em>2sinθ<em>1=sinθ</em>1\sin \theta<em>3 = \frac{n</em>2}{n<em>1} \sin \theta</em>2 = \frac{n<em>2}{n</em>1} \cdot \frac{n<em>1}{n</em>2} \sin \theta<em>1 = \sin \theta</em>1
    • Therefore: θ<em>3=θ</em>1\theta<em>3 = \theta</em>1
  • Conclusion: The slab displaces the beam's position, but the beam's direction remains unchanged.

Oblique Incidence: Snell's Law

  • Inward Refraction:

    • Occurs when n<em>1<n</em>2n<em>1 < n</em>2.
    • θ<em>t<θ</em>i\theta<em>t < \theta</em>i
  • Outward Refraction:

    • Occurs when n<em>1>n</em>2n<em>1 > n</em>2.
    • θ<em>t>θ</em>i\theta<em>t > \theta</em>i

EM Polarized Waves

  • Traveling and standing waves in different mediums.
  • Medium 1: (\mu1, \epsilon1, \sigma1, \eta1, \beta_1)
  • Medium 2: (\mu2, \epsilon2, \sigma2, \eta2, \beta_2)

Oblique Incidence

  • Plane of Incidence: Defined by the normal to the boundary and the direction of propagation of the incident wave (x-y plane).

Perpendicular/TE Polarization

  • Electric field is perpendicular to the plane of incidence.

  • Magnetic Field components: H<em>iH<em>i, H</em>rH</em>r, HtH_t

  • Electric Field components: E<em>iE<em>i, E</em>rE</em>r, EtE_t

Parallel/TM Polarization

  • Electric field is parallel to the plane of incidence.

  • Magnetic Field components: H<em>iH<em>i, H</em>rH</em>r, HtH_t

  • Electric Field components: E<em>iE<em>i, E</em>rE</em>r, EtE_t

General Polarization

  • Electric and Magnetic Field components.
  • k=k(cosϕx^sinϕy^)\vec{k} = k(\cos\phi \hat{x} - \sin\phi \hat{y})
  • r=xx^+yy^+zz^\vec{r} = x\hat{x} + y\hat{y} + z\hat{z}
  • E=E<em>x+E</em>y\vec{E} = E<em>x + E</em>y
  • H\vec{H}

Perpendicular Polarization

  • Detailed illustration of incident, reflected, and transmitted waves with perpendicular polarization.

  • Relationships between electric and magnetic fields, angles, and media properties.

  • Incident Wave: E<em>i=y^E</em>i0ejk<em>1(xsinθ</em>i+zcosθ<em>i)\vec{E<em>i} = \hat{y} E</em>{i0} e^{-jk<em>1(x\sin\theta</em>i + z\cos\theta<em>i)}H</em>i=(x^cosθ<em>i+z^sinθ</em>i)E<em>i0η</em>1ejk<em>1(xsinθ</em>i+zcosθi)\vec{H</em>i} = (-\hat{x} \cos\theta<em>i + \hat{z} \sin\theta</em>i) \frac{E<em>{i0}}{\eta</em>1} e^{-jk<em>1(x\sin\theta</em>i + z\cos\theta_i)}

  • Reflected Wave: E<em>r=y^E</em>r0ejk<em>1(xsinθ</em>rzcosθ<em>r)\vec{E<em>r} = \hat{y} E</em>{r0} e^{-jk<em>1(x\sin\theta</em>r - z\cos\theta<em>r)}H</em>r=(x^cosθ<em>r+z^sinθ</em>r)E<em>r0η</em>1ejk<em>1(xsinθ</em>rzcosθr)\vec{H</em>r} = (\hat{x} \cos\theta<em>r + \hat{z} \sin\theta</em>r) \frac{E<em>{r0}}{\eta</em>1} e^{-jk<em>1(x\sin\theta</em>r - z\cos\theta_r)}

  • Transmitted Wave: E<em>t=y^E</em>t0ejk<em>2(xsinθ</em>t+zcosθ<em>t)\vec{E<em>t} = \hat{y} E</em>{t0} e^{-jk<em>2(x\sin\theta</em>t + z\cos\theta<em>t)}H</em>t=(x^cosθ<em>t+z^sinθ</em>t)E<em>t0η</em>2ejk<em>2(xsinθ</em>t+zcosθt)\vec{H</em>t} = (-\hat{x} \cos\theta<em>t + \hat{z} \sin\theta</em>t) \frac{E<em>{t0}}{\eta</em>2} e^{-jk<em>2(x\sin\theta</em>t + z\cos\theta_t)}

Applying Boundary Conditions

  • Tangential E Continuous:

  • Tangential H Continuous:

Solution of Boundary Equations

  • Exponents must be equal for all values of x.

  • Remaining terms become expressions for reflection and transmission coefficients.

Parallel Polarization

  • Reflection coefficient: r<em>=η</em>2cosθ<em>tη</em>1cosθ<em>iη</em>2cosθ<em>t+η</em>1cosθir<em>\parallel = \frac{\eta</em>2 \cos \theta<em>t - \eta</em>1 \cos \theta<em>i}{\eta</em>2 \cos \theta<em>t + \eta</em>1 \cos \theta_i}

  • Transmission coefficient: t<em>=2η</em>2cosθ<em>iη</em>2cosθ<em>t+η</em>1cosθit<em>\parallel = \frac{2\eta</em>2 \cos \theta<em>i}{\eta</em>2 \cos \theta<em>t + \eta</em>1 \cos \theta_i}

  • Relationship: t<em>=(1+r</em>)cosθ<em>icosθ</em>tt<em>\parallel= (1 + r</em>\parallel) \frac{\cos \theta<em>i}{\cos \theta</em>t} .

General Polarization

  • General case with both perpendicular and parallel components.

  • E<em>i=E</em>i+E<em>i\vec{E<em>i} = \vec{E</em>{\parallel i}} + \vec{E<em>{\perp i}}E</em>r=E<em>r+E</em>r\vec{E</em>r} = \vec{E<em>{\parallel r}} + \vec{E</em>{\perp r}}
    E<em>t=E</em>t+Et\vec{E<em>t} = \vec{E</em>{\parallel t}} + \vec{E_{\perp t}}

Example 8-6: Wave Incident Obliquely on a Soil Surface

  • A plane wave from a distant antenna is incident on a soil surface at z = 0.

    • Ei=y^100cos(ωtπx1.73πz)(V/m)\vec{E_i} = \hat{y} 100 \cos( \omega t - \pi x - 1.73\pi z) \quad (V/m)
    • Soil: lossless dielectric with ϵr=4\epsilon_r = 4
  • Objectives:

    • Determine k<em>1,k</em>2k<em>1, k</em>2, and the incidence angle θi\theta_i.
    • Obtain expressions for the total electric fields in air and soil.
    • Determine the average power density in the soil.

Example 8-6 (cont.)


  • [ k r E x y     j x y ˆE ˆE e ~

Example 8-6 (cont.)

  • Wavelength in air (medium 1):

    • λ1=2ππ=2m\lambda_1 = \frac{2\pi}{\pi} = 2 \quad m
  • Wavelength in soil (medium 2):

    • λ<em>2=λ</em>1ϵr2=24=1m\lambda<em>2 = \frac{\lambda</em>1}{\sqrt{\epsilon_{r2}}} = \frac{2}{\sqrt{4}} = 1 \quad m
  • Wave number in medium 2:

    • k<em>2=2πλ</em>2=2π0.5=4π(rad/m)k<em>2 = \frac{2\pi}{\lambda</em>2} = \frac{2\pi}{0.5} = 4\pi \quad (rad/m)
  • Incidence angle:

    • sinθ<em>i=πk</em>1=π2π=0.5\sin \theta<em>i = \frac{\pi}{k</em>1} = \frac{\pi}{2\pi} = 0.5
    • θi=30\theta_i = 30^\circ
  • Transmission angle:

    • sinθ<em>t=k</em>1k<em>2sinθ</em>i=2π4πsin30=0.25\sin \theta<em>t = \frac{k</em>1}{k<em>2} \sin \theta</em>i = \frac{2\pi}{4\pi} \sin 30^\circ = 0.25
    • θt=14.5\theta_t = 14.5^\circ
  • Reflection and transmission coefficients (perpendicular polarization):

    • r<em>=cosθ</em>i(ϵ<em>2/ϵ</em>1)sin2θ<em>icosθ</em>i+(ϵ<em>2/ϵ</em>1)sin2θi=0.38r<em>\perp = \frac{\cos \theta</em>i - \sqrt{(\epsilon<em>2/\epsilon</em>1) - \sin^2 \theta<em>i}}{\cos \theta</em>i + \sqrt{(\epsilon<em>2/\epsilon</em>1) - \sin^2 \theta_i}} = -0.38
    • t<em>=1+r</em>=0.62t<em>\perp = 1 + r</em>\perp = 0.62

Example 8-6 (cont.)

  • Total electric field in medium 1 (air):

    • E<em>1=y^E</em>i0ejk<em>1(xsinθ</em>i+zcosθ<em>i)+y^r</em>E<em>i0ejk</em>1(xsinθ<em>izcosθ</em>i)\vec{E<em>1} = \hat{y} E</em>{i0} e^{-j k<em>1 (x \sin \theta</em>i + z \cos \theta<em>i)} + \hat{y} r</em>\perp E<em>{i0} e^{-j k</em>1 (x \sin \theta<em>i - z \cos \theta</em>i)}
    • E1=y^100ej(πx+1.73πz)y^38ej(πx1.73πz)\vec{E_1} = \hat{y} 100 e^{-j(\pi x + 1.73 \pi z)} - \hat{y} 38 e^{-j(\pi x - 1.73 \pi z)}
  • Instantaneous electric field in medium 1:

    • E<em>1(x,z,t)=Re[E</em>1ejωt]=y^[100cos(ωtπx1.73πz)38cos(ωtπx+1.73πz)](V/m)E<em>1(x, z, t) = Re[\vec{E</em>1} e^{j \omega t}] = \hat{y} [100 \cos(\omega t - \pi x - 1.73 \pi z) - 38 \cos(\omega t - \pi x + 1.73 \pi z)] \quad (V/m)

Example 8-6 (cont.)

  • Electric field in medium 2 (soil):

    • E<em>t=y^t</em>E<em>i0ejk</em>2(xsinθ<em>t+zcosθ</em>t)=y^62ej(πx+3.87πz)\vec{E<em>t} = \hat{y} t</em>\perp E<em>{i0} e^{-j k</em>2 (x \sin \theta<em>t + z \cos \theta</em>t)} = \hat{y} 62 e^{-j(\pi x + 3.87 \pi z)}
  • Instantaneous electric field in medium 2:

    • E<em>t(x,z,t)=Re[E</em>tejωt]=y^62cos(ωtπx3.87πz)(V/m)E<em>t(x, z, t) = Re[\vec{E</em>t} e^{j \omega t}] = \hat{y} 62 \cos(\omega t - \pi x - 3.87 \pi z) \quad (V/m)
  • Average power density in medium 2:

    • η<em>2=η</em>0ϵr2=120π4=60π(Ω)\eta<em>2 = \frac{\eta</em>0}{\sqrt{\epsilon_{r2}}} = \frac{120 \pi}{\sqrt{4}} = 60 \pi \quad (\Omega)
    • S<em>av=E</em>t022η2=(62)2260π10.2(W/m2)S<em>{av} = \frac{|E</em>{t0}|^2}{2 \eta_2} = \frac{(62)^2}{2 \cdot 60 \pi} \approx 10.2 \quad (W/m^2)

Reflection Coefficient vs. Angle

  • Plots of the magnitude of the reflection coefficient (Γ\Gamma) for dry soil, wet soil, and water surfaces vs. incidence angle.

  • Brewster angle is shown for each surface, where Γ=0\Gamma_{\parallel} = 0.

Brewster Angle

  • Perpendicular Polarization: Does not occur

  • Parallel Polarization: Perfect Transmission occurs at Brewster angle (θB\theta_B).

Summary For Reflection and Transmission

  • Table summarizing reflection coefficient (Γ\Gamma), transmission coefficient (t), reflectivity (R), and transmissivity (T) for both normal and oblique incidence, for both perpendicular and parallel polarization.

  • Normal Incidence:

    • θ<em>i=θ</em>t=0\theta<em>i = \theta</em>t = 0
    • Γ=η<em>2η</em>1η<em>2+η</em>1\Gamma = \frac{\eta<em>2 - \eta</em>1}{\eta<em>2 + \eta</em>1}
    • t=2η<em>2η</em>2+η1t = \frac{2 \eta<em>2}{\eta</em>2 + \eta_1}
    • t=1+Γt = 1 + \Gamma
    • R=Γ2R = |\Gamma|^2
    • T=t2η<em>1η</em>2T = |t|^2 \frac{\eta<em>1}{\eta</em>2}
    • T=1RT = 1 - R
  • Perpendicular Polarization:

    • Γ<em>=η</em>2cosθ<em>iη</em>1cosθ<em>tη</em>2cosθ<em>i+η</em>1cosθt\Gamma<em>\perp = \frac{\eta</em>2 \cos \theta<em>i - \eta</em>1 \cos \theta<em>t }{\eta</em>2 \cos \theta<em>i + \eta</em>1 \cos \theta_t}
    • t<em>=2η</em>2cosθ<em>iη</em>2cosθ<em>i+η</em>1cosθtt<em>\perp = \frac{2 \eta</em>2 \cos \theta<em>i}{\eta</em>2 \cos \theta<em>i + \eta</em>1 \cos \theta_t}
    • t<em>=1+Γ</em>t<em>\perp = 1 + \Gamma</em>\perp
    • R<em>=Γ</em>2R<em>\perp = |\Gamma</em>\perp|^2
    • T<em>=t</em>2η<em>1cosθ</em>tη<em>2cosθ</em>iT<em>\perp = |t</em>\perp|^2 \frac{\eta<em>1 \cos \theta</em>t }{\eta<em>2 \cos \theta</em>i}
    • T<em>=1R</em>T<em>\perp = 1 - R</em>\perp
  • Parallel Polarization:

    • Γ<em>=η</em>2cosθ<em>tη</em>1cosθ<em>iη</em>2cosθ<em>t+η</em>1cosθi\Gamma<em>\parallel = \frac{\eta</em>2 \cos \theta<em>t - \eta</em>1 \cos \theta<em>i}{\eta</em>2 \cos \theta<em>t + \eta</em>1 \cos \theta_i}
    • t<em>=2η</em>2cosθ<em>iη</em>2cosθ<em>t+η</em>1cosθit<em>\parallel = \frac{2 \eta</em>2 \cos \theta<em>i}{\eta</em>2 \cos \theta<em>t + \eta</em>1 \cos \theta_i}
    • t<em>=(1+Γ</em>)cosθ<em>icosθ</em>tt<em>\parallel = (1 + \Gamma</em>\parallel) \frac{\cos \theta<em>i}{\cos \theta</em>t}
    • R<em>=Γ</em>2R<em>\parallel = |\Gamma</em>\parallel|^2
    • T<em>=t</em>2η<em>1cosθ</em>tη<em>2cosθ</em>iT<em>\parallel = |t</em>\parallel|^2 \frac{\eta<em>1 \cos \theta</em>t}{\eta<em>2 \cos \theta</em>i}
    • T<em>=1R</em>T<em>\parallel = 1 - R</em>\parallel