Chapter 8

Interaction of Light and Matter

8.1

Electromagnetic Waves at an Interface

A beam of light (implicitly a plane wave) in vacuum or in an isotropic medium propagates in the particular fixed direction specified by its Poynting vector until it encounters the interface with a dierent medium. The light causes the charges (electrons,
atoms, or molecules) in the medium to oscillate and thus emit additional light waves
that can travel in any direction (over the sphere of 4 steradians of solid angle). The
oscillating particles vibrate at the frequency of the incident light and re-emit energy
as light of that frequency (this is the mechanism of light scattering). If the emitted light is out of phase with the incident light (phase dierence
= radians),
then the two waves interfere destructively and the original beam is attenuated. If the
attenuation is nearly complete, the incident light is said to be absorbed. Scattered
light may interfere constructively with the incident light in certain directions, forming
beams that have been reflected and/or transmitted. The constructive interference of
the transmitted beam occurs at the angle that satisfies Snells law; while that after
reflection occurs for reflected = incident . The mathematics are based on Maxwells
equations for the three waves and the continuity conditions that must be satisfied
at the boundary. The equations for these three electromagnetic waves are not dicult to derive, though the process is somewhat tedious. The equations determine the
properties of light on either side of the interface and lead to the phenomena of:
1. Equal angles of incidence and reflection;
2. Snells Law that relates the incident and refracted wave;
3. Relative intensities of the three waves;
4. Relative phases of the three light waves; and
5. States of polarization of the three waves.
For simplicity, we consider only plane waves, so that the dierent beams are
specified by single wavevectors kn that are valid at all points in a medium and that
115

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CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

point in the direction of propagation. The lengths of the wavevectors are determined:
|kn | =

2
n
= 2
n
0

where 0 is the wavelength in vacuum and n is the wavelength in the medium. The
interface between the media is assumed to be the x y plane located at z = 0. The
incident wavevector k0 , the reflected vector kr , the transmitted vector kt and the unit
vector n
normal to the interface are shown:

The k vectors of the incident, reflected, and transmitted (refracted) wave at the
interface between two media of index n1 and n2 (where n2 > n1 in the example
shown).

The angles 0 , r , and t are measured from the normal, so that 0 , t > 0 and r < 0
as drawn.
The incident and reflected beams are in the same medium (with n = n1 ) and so
have the same wavelength:
|k0 | = |kr | =
1 =

0
2n1
=
v1
0

2n1
2n1
=
|k0 |
|kr |

The wavelength of the transmitted beam is dierent due to the dierent index of
refraction:
2n2
2 =
|kt |

8.1 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AT AN INTERFACE

117

As drawn, the normal to the surface is specified by the unit vector perpendicular
to the interface; in this case, it points in the direction of the positive z -axis:

n
= 0

1
(we could have defined n
in the opposite direction).
The incident electric field is a sinusoidal oscillation that may be written in complex
notation:
Eincident =E0 exp [+i (k0 r 0 t)]
where r= [x, y, z] is the position vector of the location where the phase k0 r 0 t
is measured; note that the phases measured at all positions in a plane perpendicular
to the incident wavevector k0 must be equal (because this is a plane wave).
The reflected and transmitted waves have the general forms:
Eref lected = Er exp [+i (kr r r t + r )]

Etransmitted = Et exp [+i (kt r t t + t )]

where we have yet to demonstrate that r = t = 0 . The constants r and t are

the (perhaps dierent) initial phases of the reflected and transmitted waves.

8.1.1

Snells Law for Reflection and Refraction

One boundary condition that must be satisfied is that the phases of all three waves
must match at the interface (z = 0) at all times.
(k0 r 0 t)|z=0 = (kr r t + r )|z=0 = (kt r t + t )|z=0
This equivalence immediately implies that the temporal frequencies of the three
waves must be identical (0 ), because otherwise the phases would change by different amounts as functions of time. In words, the temporal frequency is invariant
with medium, or the color of the light does not change as the light travels into a
dierent medium. Therefore the spatial vectors must satisfy the conditions:
(k0 r)|z=0 = (kr r + r )|z=0 = (kt r + t )|z=0
Since the scalar products of the three wavevectors with the same position vector r
must be equal, then the three vectors k0 , kr and kt must all lie in the same plane (call
it the x-z plane, as shown in the drawing). The number of waves per unit length at
any instant of time must be equal at the boundary for all three waves, as shown:
(k0 )x = (kr )x = (kt )x

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CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

The x-components of the threee wavevectors (for the incident, reflected, and
transmitted refracted waves) must match at the interface to ensure that each
produces the same number of waves per unit length.

From the definitions of the vectors we can also see that:

i
h
(k0 )x = |k0 | cos
0 = |k0 | sin [0 ]
h 2
i
(kr )x = |kr | cos
r = |kr | sin [r ]
2

where the factor of 1 on the reflected angle is because the angle measured from the
normal is clockwise, and hence negative. The equality of the lengths of the incident
and reflected wavevectors immediately demonstrates that:
(k0 )x = (kr )x = |k0 | sin [0 ] = |kr | sin [r ]
= |k0 | sin [0 ] = |k0 | sin [r ]
= sin [0 ] = sin [r ]
= 0 = r
In words, the angle of reflection is equal to the negative of the angle of incidence. We
usually ignore the sign of the angle and say that the angles of incidence and reflection
are equal.
Now make the same observation for the transmitted wave:
2n1
(k0 )x = |k0 | sin [0 ] =
sin [0 ]
0
i
h
2n2
(kt )x = |kt | cos
sin [t ]
t = |kt | sin [t ] =
2
0

8.1 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AT AN INTERFACE

119

We equate these to derive the relationship of the angles of the incident and transmitted
wavevectors:
2n1
2n2
sin [0 ] =
sin [t ]
0
0
= n1 sin [0 ] = n2 sin [t ]
We recognize this to be (of course) Snells law for refraction.
The reflection law may be cast into the form of Snells refraction law by assuming
that the index of refraction is negative for the reflected beam:
n1 sin [0 ] = n1 sin [r ]
= sin [r ] = sin [0 ]
= r = 0
Note that these laws were derived without having to consider the vector nature of
the electric and magnetic fields, but rather just the spatial frequencies of the waves
at the boundaries. The next task is not quite this simple.....

8.1.2

Boundary Conditions for Electric and Magnetic Fields

Weve determined the angles of the reflected and transmitted (refracted) plane waves
in the form of Snells law(s). We also need to evaluate the quantity of light reflected
and refracted due to the boundary. Since the geometries of the fields will depend on
the directions of the electric field vectors, we will have to consider this aspect in
the derivations. In short, this discussion will depend on the polarization of the
electric field (dierent from the polarizability of the medium). We will again have
to match appropriate boundary conditions at the boundary, but these conditions
apply to the vector components of the electric and magnetic fields on each side of the
boundary. We use the same notation as before for amplitudes of the electric fields of
the incident, reflected, and transmitted (refracted) waves. Faradays and Amperes
laws (the Maxwell equations involving curl) for plane waves can be recast into forms
that are more useful for the current task:
B
t
E
B +
t
E

We need the constants of proportionality in this derivation. Recall that they depend
on the system of units. We will use the MKS system here:
B
t
E
B = +
t
E =

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CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

where and are the permittivity and permeability of the medium, respectively and
the phase velocity of light in the medium is:
r
1
v =

The incident field is assumed to be a plane wave of the form already mentioned:
Eincident [x, y, z, t] = E0 exp [+i (k0 r 0 t)]
h
i
= E0 exp +i [k0 ]x x + [k0 ]y y + [k0 ]z z 0 t

= E0 exp [+i (k0x x + k0y y + k0z z 0 t)]

= x
E0x + y
E0y +
zE0z exp [+i (k0x x + k0y y + k0z z 0 t)]

We know that E0 k0 . In our coordinate system, the incident wave vector lies in the
x z plane (the plane defined by k0 and n
), so that k0y = 0:
Eincident [x, y, z, t] = E0 exp [+i (k0 r 0 t)]

= x
E0x + y
E0y +
zE0z exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]

The boundary conditions that must be satisfied by the electric fields and by the
magnetic fields at the boundary are perhaps not obvious. Consider the figure on the
left:

The boundary conditions on the electric and magnetic fields at the boundary are
established from these situations.
We assume that there is no charge or current on the surface and within the cylinder
that straddles the boundary. If the height of the cylinder is decreased towards zero,
then Gauss laws establish that the flux of the electric and magnetic fields through
the top and bottom of the cylinder (the z components in this geometry) must cancel:
1 E1

n
2 E2 n
=0
=

1 E1z

2 E2z

B1 n
B2 n
=0
= B1z = B2z

8.1 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AT AN INTERFACE

121

The flux of the electric field in a medium is the so-called displacement field D = E
and the flux of the magnetic field is the field B Thus Gauss law determines that
the normal components of D and of B are continuous across the boundary of the
medium.
The figure on the right is a rectangular path (a loop) that also straddles the
boundary. The unit vector
t
n points along the surface. If the height of the loop
dh 0, then the circulations of the electric and magnetic fields must cancel:
t=0
E1 t E2
= E1x = E2x
B1 B2
t
t=0
1
2
=

B1x
B2x
=
1
2

We now want to solve Maxwells equations for an incident plane wave, which will
depend on the incident angle 0 and on the vector direction of the electric field. It is
convenient to evaluate these conditions in two cases of linearly polarized waves: (1)
where the polarization is perpendicular to the plane of incidence defined by n
and k0
(the so-called s polarization or transverse electric (TE) waves), which also means
that the electric field vector is parallel to the interface, and (2) the polarization is
parallel to the plane of incidence defined by n
and k0 (the so-called p polarization
or transverse magnetic (TM) waves). The two cases are depicted below:

The electric field perpendicular to the plane of incidence; this is the TRANSVERSE
ELECTRIC field (TE, also called the s polarization).

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CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

The electric field is parallel to the plane of incidence; this is the TRANSVERSE
MAGNETIC field (TM, also called the p polarization).

8.1.3

Transverse Electric Waves, s Polarization

In the TE case in our geometry, the electric field is oriented along the y direction and
the wavevector has components in the x and z directions:

0+y
|E0 | +
z 0 exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]
Eincident [x, y, z, t] = x
=y
E0 exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]

The magnetic field is derived from the relation:

B=

n
k E
c 0

|E0 |
|E0 |
x
+ 0

z
Bincident [x, y, z, t] =
cos [0 ] n1
y + + sin [0 ] n1
c
c
exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]
The reflected fields are:
|E0 | exp [+i (krx x + krz z 0 t)]
Eref lected [x, y, z, t] = y

|E0 |
|E0 |
Bref lected [x, y, z, t] =
x
+ sin [0 ] n1

z
+ cos [0 ] n1
c
c
exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]

|E0 |
|E0 |
x
+ sin [0 ] n1

z
=
+ cos [0 ] n1
c
c
exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]

8.1 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AT AN INTERFACE

123

and the transmitted (refracted) fields are:

Etransmitted [x, y, z, t] = y
|Et | exp [+i (ktx x + ktz z 0 t)]

|Et |
|Et |
x
+ sin [t ] n2

z
Btransmitted [x, y, z, t] =
cos [t ] n2
c
c
exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]
The only components of the electric field at the interface are transverse, so the only
boundary conditions to be satisfied are the tangential electric field:
E0 + Er = Et = 1 +

Er
Et
=
E0
E0

This is typically expressed in terms of the reflection and transmission coecients for
the amplitude of the waves (not the power of the waves; these are the reflectance R
and transmittance T of the interface, which will be considered very soon):
Er
E0
Et

E0

rT E
tT E

where the subscripts denote the transverse electric polarization. The boundary condition for the normal magnetic field yields the expression:
n1
n2
sin [0 ] (E0 + Er ) =
sin [t ] Et
c
c
while that for the tangential magnetic field:
n1
n2
cos [0 ] (E0 Er ) =
cos [t ] Et
1 c
2 c
These may be solved simultaneously for r and t to yield expressions in terms of the
indices, permeabilities, and angles::
Reflectance Coecient for TE Waves
n1
cos [0 ] n22 cos [t ]
Er
1
= n1
rT E =
E0
cos [0 ] + n22 cos [t ]
1
rT E =

n1 cos[0 ]n2 cos[t ]

n1 cos[0 ]+n2 cos[t ]

if 1 = 2 (usual case)

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CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

Transmission Coecient for TE Waves
+2 n11 cos [0 ]
Et
tT E =
= n1
E0
cos [0 ] + n22 cos [t ]
1
tT E =

+2n1 cos[0 ]
n1 cos[0 ]+n2 cos[t ]

if 1 = 2

Again, these are the amplitude coecients; the reflectance and transmittance of light
at the surface relate the energies or powers. These measure the ratios of the reflected
or transmitted power to the incident power. The power is proportional to the product
of the the magnitude of the Poynting vector and the area of the beam. The areas of
the beams before and after reflection are identical, which means that the reflectance
is just the ratio of the magnitudes of the Poynting vectors. This reduces to the square
of the amplitude reflection coecient:
R = r2
which reduces to this expression for the TE case:
2

n1 cos [0 ] n2 cos [t ]
RT E =
n1 cos [0 ] + n2 cos [t ]
The transmission T is a bit more complicated to compute, because the refraction
at the interface changes the width of the beam in one direction (along the x-axis in
this example), so that the area of the transmitted beam is dierent from that of the
incident beam. This is illustrated in the figure for a case with n1 > n2 :

Demonstration that the areas of the beams dier in the two media. This must be
accounted for in the calculation of the power transmission T.
The magnitude of the Poynting vector is proportional to the product of the index of

8.1 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AT AN INTERFACE

125

refraction and the squared magnitude of the electric field:

|s1 | n1 |E0 |2

|s2 | n2 |Et |2
The ratio of the powers is:
T =

n2 |Et |2 A2
n2 2 A2
|s2 | A2
=
=
t
2
|s1 | A1
n1
A1
n1 |E0 | A1

The area of the transmitted beam changes in proportion to the dimension along the
x-axis in this case, which allows us to see that:

sin 2 t
A2
w2
cos [t ]

=
=
=
A1
w1
cos [0 ]
sin 2 0
which leads to the final expression for the transmission at the interface:

cos [t ]
n2 2
t
T =
n1
cos [0 ]

cos[t ]
t2
T = nn12 cos[
0]

Snells law gives a relationship between the incident and transmitted angles:
n1
sin [0 ]
n2
s

2
q
n1
2
sin [0 ]
= cos [t ] = 1 sin [t ] = 1
n2

n1 sin [0 ] = n2 sin [t ] = sin [t ] =

Thus we can write down the transmittance T in terms of the refractive indices and
the incident angle:
!
p
n22 n21 sin2 [0 ]
t2
T =
n1 cos [0 ]
For the TE case, the transmission is:
!
p
2
n22 n21 sin2 [0 ]
+2n1 cos [0 ]

TT E =
n1 cos [0 ]
n1 cos [0 ] + n2 cos [t ]
These will be plotted for some specific cases after we evaluate the coecients for TM
waves.

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8.1.4

CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

Transverse Magnetic Waves (p polarization)

In the TM case in our geometry, the electric field is in the x-z plane and the wavevector
has components in the x and z directions:

|E0 | cos [0 ] + y
0+
z |E0 | sin [0 ] exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]
Eincident [x, y, z, t] = x
= (
x |E0 | cos [0 ]
z |E0 | sin [0 ]) exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]

The magnetic field is in the y-direction:

|E0 |
y
exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]
Bincident [x, y, z, t] = n1
c
The reflected fields are:
x |E0 | cos [0 ]
z |E0 | sin [0 ]) exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]
Eref lected [x, y, z, t] = (

|E |
Bref lected [x, y, z, t] = n1 r y
exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]
c
and the transmitted (refracted) fields are:
x |E0 | cos [t]
z |E0 | sin [t ]) exp [+i (k0x x + k0z z 0 t)]
Etransmitted [x, y, z, t] = (

|E |
exp [+i (ktx x + ktz z 0 t)]
Btransmitted [x, y, z, t] = n2 t y
c
In the case, the boundary condition on the normal component of B is trivial, but the
other components are:
1 sin [0 ] (E0 + Er ) = 2 sin [2 ] Et
cos [0 ] (E0 Er ) = cos [2 ] Et
n2
n1
(E0 + Er ) =
Et
1 c
1 c
These are solved for the reflection and transmission coecients:
Transverse Magnetic Waves
+ n22 cos [0 ] n11 cos [t ]
rT M = n2
+ 2 cos [0 ] + n11 cos [t ]
which simplifies if the permeabilities are equal (as they usually are):
rT M =

+n2 cos[0 ]n1 cos[t ]

+n2 cos[0 ]+n1 cos[t ]

if 1 = 2

8.1 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AT AN INTERFACE

127

The corresponding reflectance is:

2

+n2 cos [0 ] n1 cos [t ]

RT M =
+n2 cos [0 ] + n1 cos [t ]
The amplitude transmission coecient evaluates to:
tT M =

2 n11 cos [0 ]
+ n22 cos [0 ] +

n1
1

cos [t ]

again, if the permeabilities are equal, this simplifies to:

tT M =

2n1 cos[0 ]
+n2 cos[0 ]+n1 cos[t ]

if 1 = 2

The corresponding transmittance functionis:

!
p
2
2n1 cos [0 ]
n22 n21 sin2 [0 ]

TT M =
n1 cos [0 ]
+n2 cos [0 ] + n1 cos [t ]

8.1.5

Comparison of Coecients for TE and TM Waves

We should compare the coecients for the two cases of TE and TM waves. The
reflectance coecients are:

n1 cos [0 ] n2 cos [t ]
n1 cos [0 ] + n2 cos [t ]
+n2 cos [0 ] n1 cos [t ]
=
+n2 cos [0 ] + n1 cos [t ]

rT E =
rT M

where the angles are also determined by Snells law:

n1 sin [0 ] = n2 sin [t ]
= cos [t ] =

2
n1
sin [0 ]
n2

Note that angles and the indices for the TE case are in the same media, i.e., the
index n1 multiplies the cosine of 0 , which is in the same medium. The same condition
holdes for n2 and t . The opposite is true for the TM case: n1 is applied to cos [t ] and
n2 to cos [0 ]. These same observations also apply to the corresponding transmission

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CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

coecients:
+2n1 cos [0 ]
n1 cos [0 ] + n2 cos [t ]
+2n1 cos [0 ]
=
+n2 cos [0 ] + n1 cos [t ]

tT E =
tT M

Normal Incidence (0 = 0)

In the case of normal incidence where 0 = r = t = 0, then the TE and TM

equations evaluate to:
n1 n2
n1 + n2

+n2 n1
=
= rT E |0 =0
+n2 + n1
+2n1
=
n1 + n2
+2n1
=
= tT E |0 =0
n1 + n2

rT E |0 =0 =
rT M |0 =0
tT E |0 =0
tT M |0 =0

cases are identical. Also, the areas of the incident and transmitted waves are identical
so there is no area factor in the transmittance. The resulting formulas for reflectance
and transmittance reduce to:
normal incidence (0 = 0)
2

2
RT E (0 = 0) = RT M (0 = 0) R = nn11 n
+n2
T =

4n1 n2
(n1 +n2 )2

Example: Rare-to-Dense Reflection If the input medium has a smaller refractive index n (a rarer medium) than the second (denser) medium, so that n1 < n2 ,
then the coecients are:

8.1 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AT AN INTERFACE

129

n1 = 1.0
n2 = 1.5
1.0 1.5
= 0.2 = 0.2e+i
1.0 + 1.5
1.5 1.0
= +0.2
= rT M =
1.0 + 1.5
2 1.0
= tT E = tT M =
= +0.8
1.0 + 1.5
= RT E = RT M = 0.04
= TT E = TT M = 0.96
for rare-to-dense reflection
= rT E =

In words, the phase of the reflected light is changed by radians = 180 if reflected
at a rare-to-dense interface such as the usual air-to-glass case.

Example: Dense-to-Rare Reflection If the input medium is denser (n1 > n2 ),

then these values are obtained:

n1 = 1.5
n2 = 1.0
1.5 1.0
= +0.2
1.5 + 1.0
1.0 1.5
= rT M =
= 0.2 = 0.2e+i
1.0 + 1.5
= RT E = RT M = 0.04
= TT E = TT M = 0.96

= rT E =

There is no phase shift of the reflected amplitude in dense-to-rare reflection, commonly called internal reflection..

8.1.6

Angular Dependence of Reflection and Transmittance

at Rare-to-Dense Interface

Consider the graphs of these coecients for the cases of the rare-to-dense interface
(n1 = 1 < n2 = 1.5). The reflection coecients are plotted vs. incident angle
measured in degrees from 0 (normal incidence) to 90 (grazing incidence).

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CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

Amplitude reflectance and transmittance coecients for n1 = 1.0(air) and n2 = 1.5

(glass) for both TE and TM waves, plotted as functions of the incident angle from
0 = 0 (normal incidence) to 0 = 90 (grazing incidence). The reflectance
coecient rT E < 0 for all , which means that there is a phase shift upon reflection,
whereas rT M > 0 for 0 < B (Brewsters angle). Also note that the transmittance
coecients are very similar functions.

Brewsters Angle Angle of Complete Polarization

Note that rT M = 0 at one particular angle (

= 60 ) in the TM case (parallel polarization), which means that no amplitude of this wave is reflected if incident at this
angle. In other words, any light reflected at this angle must be the TE wave which
is completely polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence. This is Brewsters
angle, the angle such that the reflected wave and the refracted wave are orthogonal
(i.e., 0 +t = 2 = t = 2 0 ). In this case, the electrons driven in the plane of the
incidence will not emit radiation at the angle required by the law of reflection. This is
sometimes called the angle of complete polarization. Note that the transmitted light
contains both polarizations, though not in equal amounts.

8.1 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AT AN INTERFACE

131

Polarization of reflected light at Brewsters angle. The incident beam at 0 = B is

unpolarized. The reflectance coecient for light polarized in the plane (TM waves)
is 0, and the sum of the incident and refracted angle is 90 = 2 . Thus
B + t = 2 = t = 2 B .
From Snells law, we have:
n1 sin [1 ] = n2 sin [2 ]
At Brewsters angle,
h

B
n1 sin [B ] = n2 sin
h2 i
h i

= n2 sin
cos [B ] cos
sin [B ]
2
2
= +n2 cos [B ]
n1 sin [B ] = n2 cos [B ]
sin [B ]
n2
= tan [B ]
=
=
n1
cos [B ]

n2
= B = tan1
n1
If n1 = 1 (air) and n2 = 1.5 (glass), then B
= 56.3 . For incident angles larger than

about 56 , the reflected light is plane polarized parallel to the plane of incidence.
If the dense medium is water (n2 = 1.33), then B
= 52.4 . This happens at the
interface with any dielectric. The reflection at Brewsters angle provides a handy
means to determine the polarization axis of a linear polarizer just look through a
linear polarizer at light reflected at a shallow angle relative to the surface (e.g., a
waxed floor).
Reflectance and Transmittance at Rare-to-Dense Interface
The reflectance and transmittance the two polarizations with n1 = 1.0 and n2 = 1.5
as functions of the incident angle 0 show the zero reflectance of the TM wave at

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CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

Brewsters angle.

Reflectance and transmittance for n1 = 1.0 and n2 = 1.5 for TE and TM waves.
Note that RT M = 0 and TT M = 1 at one angle.

8.1.7

Reflection and Transmittance at Dense-to-Rare Interface, Critical Angle

At a glass-to-air interface where n1 > n2 , the reflectance of the TM wave (s polarization) is:
n2 cos [0 ] + n1 cos [t ]
r=
+n2 cos [0 ] + n1 cos [t ]
The numerator evaluates to zero for a particular incident angle that satisfies:
n2 cos [0 ] = n1 cos [t ]
n1
cos [0 ]
=
n2
cos [t ]
This corresponds to the situation where Snells law requires that:
h
n1
i
n2
=1=
sin [0 ] = sin [0 ] =
sin t =
2
n2
n1
If n1 = 1.5 and n2 = 1.0, then
sin [0 ] =

2
= 0
= 0.73 radians
= 41.8 c
3

If the incident angle exceeds this value c , the critical angle, then the amplitude
reflectance coecients rT E and rT M are both unity, and thus so are the reflectances
RT E and RT M . This means that light incident for 0 c is totally reflected. This is

8.2 INDEX OF REFRACTION OF GLASS

133

the source of total internal reflectance (internal because the reflection is from glass
back into glass). The phenomenon of TIR is the reason for the usefulness of optical
fibers in communications.
The angular dependences of the amplitude reflection coecients for the case n1 =
1.5 (glass) and n2 = 1.0 (air) are shown. Brewsters angle in this case satisfies:


1
1 n2
1
B = tan
= tan
= 33.7
n1
1.5

Amplitude reflectance coecients for TE and TM waves if n1 = 1.5 (glass) and

n2 = 1.0 (air). Both coecients rise to r = +1.0 at the critical angle c , for
which t = 90 = 2 . Also noted is Brewsters angle, where rT M = 0. The situation
for 0 > c can be interpreted as producing complex-valued rT E and rT M .

8.1.8

Practical Applications for Fresnels Equations

The 4% normal reflectance of one surface of glass is the reason why windows look
like mirrors at night when youre in the brightly lit room. Lasers incorporate end
windows oriented at Brewsters angle to eliminate reflective losses at the mirrors (and
also thus producing polarized laser light). Optical fibers use total internal reflection.
Hollow fibers use high-incidence-angle near-unity reflections.

8.2

Index of Refraction of Glass

We have already stated that the index of refraction n relates the phase velocity of
light in vacuum with that in matter:
n=

c
1.
v

134

CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

In a dispersive medium, the index n decreases with increasing , which ensures that
the phase velocity k (of the average wave) is larger than the group velocity d
(of the
dk
modulation wave).
Refraction is the result of the interaction of light with atoms in the medium and
depends on wavelength because the refractive index is also; recall that the index
decreases with increasing wavelength:
Blue
Green

Red

n = 1.5
n = 1.0

[nm]
Fraunhofer Designation

486.1
F

589.3
D

656.3
C

Typical dispersion curve for glass showing the decrease in n with increasing and
the three spectral wavelengths used to specify refractivity, mean dispersion, and
partial dispersion.
To a first approximation, the index of refraction varies as 1 , which allows us to
write an empirical expression for the refractivity of the medium n 1:
b
n [] 1
=a+

where a and b are parameters determined from measurements. The observation that
the index decreases with increasing determines that b > 0. Cauchy came up with
an empirical relation for the refractivity more free parameters:

C
B
n [] 1
= A 1 + 2 + 4 +

Again, the behavior of normal dispersion ensures that A and B are both positive. Yet
a better formula was proposed by Hartmann:
n []
= n0 +

( 0 )1.2

where > 0. The refractive properties of the glass are approximately specified by the
refractivity and the measured dierences in refractive index at the three Fraunhofer
wavelengths F, D, and C :

135

8.2 INDEX OF REFRACTION OF GLASS

Refractivity

nD 1

1.75 nD 1.5

Mean Dispersion

nF nC > 0

dierences between blue and red indices

Partial Dispersion

nD nC > 0

dierences between yellow and red indices

Abb Number

nD 1
nF nC

ratio of refractivity and mean dispersion, 25 65

Glasses are specified by six-digit numbers abcdef, where nD = 1.abc, to three

decimal places, and = de.f . Note that larger values of the refractivity mean that
the refractive index is larger and thus so is the deviation angle in Snells law. A
larger Abb number means that the mean dispersion is smaller and thus there will be
a smaller dierence in the angles of refraction. Such glasses with larger Abb numbers
and smaller indices and less dispersion are crown glasses, while glasses with smaller
Abb numbers are flint glasses, which are denser. Examples of glass specifications
include Borosilicate crown glass (BSC), which has a specification number of 517645,
so its refractive index in the D line is 1.517 and its Abb number is = 64.5. The
specification number for a common flint glass is 619364, so nD = 1.619 (relatively
large) and = 36.4 (smallish). Now consider the refractive indices in the three lines
for two dierent glasses: crown (with a smaller n) and flint:
Line

[nm]

n for Crown n for Flint

656.28

1.51418

1.69427

589.59

1.51666

1.70100

486.13

1.52225

1.71748

The glass specification numbers for the two glasses are evaluated to be:

For the crown glass:

refractivity: nD 1 = 0.51666
= 0.517
1.51666 1

Abb number: =
= 64.0
1.52225 1.51418
Glass number =517640
For the flint glass:
refractivity:L nD 1 = 0.70100
= 0.701
0.70100 1

Abb number: =
= 30.2
1.71748 1.69427
Glass number =701302

136

8.2.1

CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

Optical Path Length

Because the phase velocity of light in a medium is less than that in vacuum, light
takes longer to travel through a given thickness of material than through the same
thickness of vacuum. For a fixed distance d, we know that:
d = v t (distance = velocity time)
= c t1 (in vacuum)
c
= t2 (in medium of index n)
n
t2
= t1 = = t2 > t1
n
In the time t2 required for light to travel the distance d in a material of index n,
light would travel a longer distance nd = ct2 in vacuum. The distance nd traveled in
vacuum in the equivalent time is the optical path length in the medium.

8.3

Polarization

Maxwells equations demonstrated that light is a transverse wave (as opposed to

longitudinal waves, e.g., sound). Both the E and B vectors are perpendicular to
the direction of propagation of the radiation. Even before Maxwell, Thomas Young
inferred the transverse character of light in 1817 when he passed light through a calcite
crystal (calcium carbonate, CaCO3 ). Two beams emerged from the crystal, which
Young brilliantly deduced were orthogonally polarized, i.e., the directions of the E
vectors of the two beams areorthogonal.
The two components

of an electromagnetic

V
wave are the electric field E m
and the magnetic field B tesla = webers
.
m2
The polarization of radiation is defined as the plane of vibration of the electric
vector E, rather than of B, because the eect of the E field on a free charge (an
electron) is much greater than the eect of B. This is seen from the Lorentz equation,
or the Lorentz force law:

v
F q0 E + B
c
q0 = charge [coulombs]
F = force on the charge [newtons, 1 N = 1 kgs2 m ]
v = velocity of the charge q0 , measured in [ ms ]
c = velocity of light [3 108 ms ]
The factor c1 ensures that the force on the electron due to the magnetic field is
usually much smaller than the electric force.

8.3.1

Plane Polarization = Linear Polarization

The most familiar type of polarization is linear polarization, where the E-vector
oscillates in the same plane at all points on the wave.

137

8.3 POLARIZATION

Any state of linear polarization can be expressed as a linear combination (sum)

of two orthogonal states (basis states), e.g., the x- and y-components of the E-vector
for a wave traveling toward z = :
xEx + y
Ey ] cos [kz t]
E = E [r, t] = [

= unit vectors along x and y

x
, y

Ex , Ey = amplitudes of the x- and y-components of E.

For a wave of amplitude E0 polarized at an angle relative to the x -axis:

Ex = E0 cos []
Ey = E0 sin []
Linearly polarized radiation oscillates in the same plane at all times and at all points
in space. Especially note that Ex and Ey are in phase for linearly polarized light, i.e.,
both components have zero-crossings at the same point in time and space.

Electric field vector E and magnetic field vector H of a plane-polarized wave

8.3.2

Circular Polarization

If the E-vector describes a helical (i.e., screw-like) motion in space, the projection
of the E-vector onto a plane normal to the propagation direction k exhibits circular
motion over time, hence the polarization is circular:

138

CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

Circular polarization occurs when the electric fields along orthogonal axes have the
same amplitude by their phases dier by 2 radians.
If we sit at a fixed point in space z = z0 , the motion of the E-vector is the sum
of two orthogonal linearly polarized states, but with one component out-of-phase by
90 = 2 radians. The math is identical to that used to describe oscillator motion as
the projection of rotary motion:
h
i
motion = x
cos [t] + y
=x
cos [t] y
cos t
sin [t]
2
For a traveling wave:
h
h
ii
E = [Ex , Ey ] = E0 cos [kz t] , E0 cos kz t
2
= [E0 cos [kz t] , E0 sin [kz t]]
where the upper sign applies to right-handed circular polarization (angular momentum convention)

8.3.3

Nomenclature for Circular Polarization

Like linearly polarized light, circularly polarized light has two orthogonal states, i.e.,
clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the E-vector. These are termed righthanded (RHCP) and left-handed (LHCP). There are two conventions for the nomenclature:

1. Angular Momentum Convention (my preference): Point the thumb of the

right

left
hand in the direction of propagation. If the fingers point in the direction of ro-

139

8.3 POLARIZATION

tation of the E-vector, then the light is

RHCP
LHCP

2. Optics (also called screwy) Convention: The path traveled by the E-vector of
RHCP light is the same path described by a right-hand screw. Of course, the
natural laws defined by Murphy ensure that the two conventions are opposite:
RHCP light by the angular momentum convention is LHCP by the screw convention.

8.3.4

Elliptical Polarization, Reflections

If the amplitudes of the x-and y-components of the E-vector are not equal, or if the
phase dierence is not 2 = 90 , then the projection of the path of the E-vector
is not a circle, but rather an ellipse. This results in elliptical polarization. Note that
elliptical polarization may be either right- or left-handed, as defined above.

8.3.5

Change of Handedness on Reflection

By conservation of angular momentum, the direction of rotation of the E-vector does

not change on reflection. Since the direction of propagation reverses, the handedness
of the circular or elliptical polarization changes:

Change in handedness of a circularly polarized wave upon reflection by a mirror.

Natural Light
The superposition of emissions from a large number of thermal source elements (as in
a light bulb) has a random orientation of polarizations. The state of polarization of
the resulting light changes direction randomly over very short time intervals (
= 108
seconds). The radiation is termed unpolarized, even though it is polarized when
viewed within this short time period. Natural light is neither totally polarized nor
totally unpolarized; rather, we speak of partial polarization.

140

CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

8.4

Description of Polarization States

8.4.1

Jones Vector

The components of the electric field in the two orthogonal directions may used to
represent a vector with complex components. This is called a Jones vector, which is
useful only for completely polarized light.

E = Re{E0 ei[kzt] } = Re Ex ei[kzt] , Re Ey ei(kzt)

= Re [Ex , Ey ei ]ei[kzt]

Ex

= Jones Vector E =
i
Ey e
Examples:
1. Plane-polarized light along x-axis

E =

E0
0

2. Plane-polarized light along y-axis:

E =

0
E0

3. Plane-polarized light at angle to x-axis:

E0 cos []

E =
E0 sin []
4. RHCP
E0 cos [kz t] + y
E0 sin [kz t]
E=x
h
i
E0 cos kz t
=x
E0 cos [kz t] + y
2

1
E0
i[kzt]
i[kzt]

} = E = Re E0
= Re
e
e

E exp i
exp i
0

Other representations of the state of polarization are available (e.g., Stokes parameters, coherency matrix, Mueller matrix, Poincare sphere). They are more compli-

8.5 GENERATION OF POLARIZED LIGHT

141

cated, and hence more useful, i.e., they can describe partially polarized states. For
more information, see (for example), Polarized Light by Shurcli.

8.5
8.5.1

Generation of Polarized Light

Selective Emission:

If all emitting elements of a source (e.g., electrons in a bulb filament), vibrate in the
same direction, the radiated light will be polarized in that direction. This is dicult
to achieve at optical frequencies (t / 1014 s = ' 1014 Hz), but is easy at radio
or microwave frequencies ( . 108 Hz) by proper design of the antenna that radiates
the energy. For example, a radio-frequency oscillator attached to a simple antenna
forces the free electrons in the antenna to oscillate along the long (vertical) dimension
of the antenna. The emitted radiation is therefore mostly oscillating in the vertical
direction; it is vertically polarized.

Light (electromagnetic radiation) emitted by a dipole radiator is polarized in the

direction of motion of the emitting electrons (vertical, in this case).
Rather than generating polarized light at the source, we can obtain light of a selected
polarization from natural light by removing unwanted states of polarization. This is
the mechanism used in the next section.

8.5.2

Selective Transmission or Absorption

A manmade device for selecting a state of polarization by selective absorption is

polaroid. This operates like the microwave-polarizing skein of wires. The wires are
parallel to the y-axis in the figure. Radiation incident on the wires drives the free
electrons in the wires in the direction of polarization of the radiation. The electrons
driven in the y-direction along the surface of the wire and strike other such electrons,
thus dissipating the energy in thermal collisions. What energy that is reradiated by
such electrons is mostly directed back toward the source (reflected). The x-component

142

CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

of the polarization is not so aected, since the electrons in the wire are constrained
against movement in that direction. The x-component of the radiation therefore
passes nearly unaected.
Common polaroid sheet acts as a skein of wires for optical radiation. It is made
from clear polyvinyl acetate which has been stretched in one direction to produce long
chains of hydrocarbon molecules. The sheet is then immersed in iodine to supply lots
of free electrons.

Polarization by skein of wires the radiation polarized parallel to the direction of

the wires in the skein is absorbed, so the radiation polarized perpendicular to the
wires is transmitted.

8.5.3

Generating Polarized Light by Reflection Brewsters

Angle

H8.6
The two polarizations of light reflected from an interface between two dierent
dielectric media (i.e., media with dierent real refractive indices) see the same configuration of the interface only with normal incidence (i.e., the light is incident perpendicular to the surface). Thus the two polarizations must be identically reflected.
However, if the light is incident obliquely, one polarization sees the bound electrons
of the surface dierently and therefore is reflected dierently. The reflected wave is
polarized to some extent; the amount of polarization depends on the angle of incidence and the index of refraction n. The polarization mechanism is simply pictured
as a forced electron oscillator. The bound electrons in the dielectric material are
driven by the incident oscillating electric field of the radiation E exp [i (k0 z0 0 t)],
and hence vibrate at frequency 0 = 20 . Due to its acceleration, the vibrating electron reradiates radiation at the same frequency to produce the reflected wave. The
state of polarization of the reflected radiation is a function of the polarization state
of the incident wave, the angle of incidence, and the indices of refraction on either
side of the interface. If the reflected wave and the refracted wave are orthogonal
(i.e., 0 + t = 90 = t = 2 0 ), then the reflected wave is completely plane
polarized parallel to the surface (and thus polarized perpendicular to the plane of
incidence). This angle appeared in the discussion of the reflectance coecients in the
previous section. In this case, the electrons driven in the plane of the incidence will
not emit radiation at the angle required by the law of reflection. This angle of complete polarization is called Brewsters Angle B , which we mentioned earlier during

8.5 GENERATION OF POLARIZED LIGHT

143

the discussion of the Fresnel equations.

Brewsters angle: the incident beam at 0 = B is unpolarized. The reflectance

coecient for light polarized in the plane (TM waves) is 0, and the sum of the
incident and refracted angle is 90 = 2 . Thus B + t = 2 = t = 2 B .
At Brewsters angle,
i
B
2

1 n2
= B = tan
n1

n1 sin [B ] = n2 sin

If n1 = 1 (air) and n2 = 1.5 (glass), then B

= 56.3 . For incident angles larger than

about 56 , the reflected light is plane polarized parallel to the plane of incidence.
If the dense medium is water (n2 = 1.33), then B
= 52.4 . This happens at the
interface with any dielectric. The reflection at Brewsters angle provides a handy
means to determine the polarization axis of a linear polarizer just look through the
polarizer at light reflected at a steep angle.

8.5.4

Polarization by Scattering

Light impinging on an air molecule drives the electrons of the molecule in the direction of vibration of the electric field vector. This motion causes light to be reradiated
in a dipole pattern; i.e., no light is emitted along the direction of electron vibration.
If we look at scattered light (e.g., blue sky) at 90 from the source, the light is completely linearly polarized. Note that if the light is multiply scattered, as in fog, each
scattering disturbs the state of polarization and the overall linear state is perturbed
into unpolarized radiation.

144

CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

Scattering of sunlight by atmospheric molecules.

8.6

Birefringence Double Refraction

H8.4
Many natural crystals and manmade materials interact with the two orthogonal
polarizations dierently. This is often due to an anistropy (nonuniformity) in the
crystalline structure; such materials are called dichroic or birefringent Many crystals
(e.g., calcite) divide a nonpolarized light wave into two components with orthogonal
polarizations. The two indices of refraction are sometimes denoted nf and ns for fast
and slow axes, where nf < ns . They are also denoted no and ne for ordinary and
extraordinary axes. The ordinary ray obeys Snells law; the extraordinary ray does
not.One is called the ordinary ray, because it obeys Snells law for refraction. The
second, or extraordinary ray, does not obey Snell. By dividing the incoming natural
light into two beams in such a crystal, we can select one of the two polarizations.

8.6.1

Examples:

Refractive indices along the fast and slow axes at = 589.3 nm

Material

ns

Calcite (CaCO3 )

1.6584 1.4864

nf

Crystalline Quartz (SiO2 ) 1.5534 1.5443

Ice (crystalline H2 O)

1.313

1.309

Rutile (T iO2 )

2.903

2.616

Sodium Nitrate (SiNO3 )

1.5854 1.3369

8.6 BIREFRINGENCE DOUBLE REFRACTION

145

The wavelength of light in a medium is 0 = n , so light along the two polarization

directions have dierent wavelengths:
0s =

8.6.2

< 0f =
ns
nf

Phase Delays in Birefringent Materials Wave Plates

Consider light incident on a birefringent material of thickness d. The electric field as

a function of distance z and time t is:

E [z, t] = x
Ex +
yEy ei(kzt) .
At the input face of the material (z = 0) and the output face (z = d), the fields are:

Ex + y
Ey eit
E [z = 0, t] = x

E [z = d, t] = x
Ex + y
Ey ei(kdt)

If nx = ns > ny = nf then f > s and :

2ns
2nf
> kf = ky =

The field at the output face (z = d) is therefore:

ks = kx =

i (2d ns )
2d nf
Ex exp +
+y
Ey exp +i
eit
E [d, t] = x

2i
2dnf
d (nf ns )
= x
Ex + y
Ey exp
exp +i

d (nf ns ), the electric field at the output

By defining a constant phase term 2

face of the birefringent material can be expressed as:

2dnf
i
Ex + y
Ey e
E [d, t] = x
exp +i

On emergence from the material, the y-component of the polarization has a dierent
phase than the x-component; the phase dierence is .
Example:
= + 2 = (nf ns ) d = 4 , and there is a phase dierence of one quarter wavelength between the polarizations of the x- and the y-components of the wave. This
is a quarter-wave plate. The required thickness d of the material is:
d=

4 (ns nf )

146

CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

And the emerging field is:

i
h
+ i
2
E [d, t] = x
exp [i (ks d t)]
Ex + y
Ey e

If Ex = Ey , (i.e., the incident wave is linearly polarized @ 45 to the x-axis), then the
emerging wave is circularly polarized. This is the principle of the circular polarizer.

Example:
If = + = d =

,
2(ns nf )

and the relative phase delay is 180 . Such a device

is a half-wave plate. If the incident light is linearly polarized along the orientation
midway between the fast and slow axes, the plane of polarization of the exiting linearly
polarized light is rotated by 90 .

8.6.3

Circular Polarizer:

A circular polarizer is a sandwich of a linear polarizer and a 4 plate, where the

polarizing axis is oriented midway between the fast and slow axes of the quarter-wave
plate. The LP ensures that equal amplitudes exist along both axes of the quarterwave plate, which delays one of the components to create circularly polarized light.
Light incident from the back side of a circular polarizer is not circularly polarized
on exit; rather it is linearly polarized. A circular polarizer can be recognized and
properly oriented by placing it on a reflecting object (e.g.,.a dime). If the image of
the coin is dark, the polarizer has the linear polarizer on top. This is because the
handedness of the light is changed on reflection; the light emerging from the 4 plate
is now linearly polarized perpendicular to the axis of the LP and no light escapes.

A circular polarizer is a sandwich of a linear polarizer and a quarter-wave plate.

8.7 CRITICAL ANGLE TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION

8.7

147

Critical Angle Total Internal Reflection

We also mentioned this phenomenon during the discussion of the Fresnel equations.
From Snell, we have the relation:
n1 sin [1 ] = n2 sin [2 ]
If n1 > n2 then a specific angle 1 satisfies the condition:
n1
n2

sin [1 ] = 1 = sin [1 ] =
< 1 = 2 =
n2
n1
2
which means that the outgoing ray is refracted parallel to the interface (surface).
The incident angle 1 that satisfies this condition is the critical angle c

1 n2
c = sin
n1
c

-c

/2

For crown glass with nd = 1.52, the critical angle is sin1 1.52
= 0.718 radians

= 41 . For a common flint glass with nd = 1.70, then c = 0.629 radians

= 36 . If the
incident angle 1 > c and n1 > n2 (e.g., the first medium is glass and the second is
air), then no real-valued solution for Snells law exists, and there is no refracted light.
This is the well-known phenomenon of total internal reflection all of the incident
light is reflected at the interface.

-1
n1
n2 < n1

This may be analyzed rigorously by applying Maxwells equations to show that the
refracted angle 2 is complex valued instead of real valued, so that the electromagnetic
field is attenuated exponentially as it crosses the interface. In other words, the electric

148

CHAPTER 8 INTERACTION OF LIGHT AND MATTER

field decays so rapidly across the interface that no energy can flow across the boundary,
and hence no light escapes. However, we can frustrate the total internal reflection by
placing another medium (such as another piece of glass) within a few light wavelengths
of the interface. If close enough to the boundary, then some electric field can get into
the second glass and a refracted wave escapes.

-1

12

Schematic of frustrated total internal reflection: some energy can jump across a
small gap between two pieces of glass even though the incident angle exceeds the
critical angle. As the width of the gap increases, then the quantity of energy
coupled across the gap decreases very quickly.