Dielectric Slab Stack Configuration for Plane Wave Incidence

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on interpreting the configuration of a semi-infinite medium composed of 100 lossless dielectric slabs when a plane wave is incident. Two main interpretations are proposed: one where the slabs are stacked vertically, allowing the wave to hit them horizontally, and another where the slabs are arranged horizontally like books, with the wave penetrating each slab sequentially. Participants are asked to clarify if either interpretation aligns with the original statement regarding the plane wave incidence. The focus is on understanding the spatial arrangement of the slabs in relation to the wave's direction. Clarification on the correct interpretation is sought from the forum members.
KasraMohammad
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Given the following statement:
"A plane wave is incident (from the free space) upon a semi-infinite medium made of
N=100 different lossless dielectric slabs."

Visually/spatially, what does this look like?

I can see two possibilities

1) the slabs are stacked on top of each other, like plates stacked on a table, and the wave incident from the side(horizontally).

2) the slabs are stacked like a row of books on a shelf, and the wave is incident upon the flat plane of the first dielectric, thus penetrating each slab one by one from one side to the other.

Are any of these two possibilities correct ways of interpretating the statement above?
 
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