Do the Fresnel equations of reflection apply to monochromatic light?

AI Thread Summary
The Fresnel equations apply to monochromatic light for estimating reflectance and transmittance at the interface of two media. The index of refraction is wavelength-dependent, meaning it varies with the light's wavelength, which is crucial for accurate calculations. When monochromatic light passes through collimators, it can remain unpolarized depending on the setup and the nature of the light source. Understanding the relationship between wavelength and refractive index is essential for applying the Fresnel equations effectively. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the importance of considering wavelength when dealing with light interactions at media interfaces.
XLAYZ
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Hello,

I have a monochromatic light source (wavelength ~ 420 nm), which will be incident on the interface of two different media. Could someone please explain if the Fresnel equations applies with monochromatic light when estimating the reflectance and transmitance?
Thank you in advance!

Fresnel equation:

QQ截图20190827123751.png
 
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XLAYZ said:
Could someone please explain if the Fresnel equations applies with monochromatic light when estimating the reflectance and transmitance?

Would it help if I pointed out that the index of refraction n = n(λ)?
 
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Andy Resnick said:
Would it help if I pointed out that the index of refraction n = n(λ)?
Thank you for your hint, now I realized that I also need to take the wavelength into account.
BTW, when a constant monochromatic light (λ≈420 nm) passes through a ø 2.5 mm and 15 mm collimator to produce parallel light beams, is this light unpolarized? Thanks.
 
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