Does the Transmission Coefficient Affect Phase Relationships in Optics?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the impact of the transmission coefficient on phase relationships in classical optics. It is established that a medium with a transmittance of 99% indicates that 99% of the incident light intensity is transmitted, but this does not inherently provide information about any phase shift that may occur. Niles asserts that without additional data, such as the phase of incident, reflected, and transmitted light, one cannot definitively determine the presence of a phase shift. The propagation constant's imaginary term, as mentioned in the referenced Wiki article, suggests a relationship to phase, but its application in this context remains unclear.

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Niles
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Hi

I have a question on the transmission coefficient in classical optics. When we say that a medium has a transmittance of e.g. 99%, then 99% of the incident light intensity is transmitted. But will the light also acquire a phase?

I tried searching the web, but all I found was this Wiki-article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propagation_constant. There it states that the propagation constant has an imaginary term (=phase), but does it also apply to the case I described?


Niles.
 
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If just the transmittance is given, I don't see a way to determine the phase shift (if present).
 
the phases of light(incident,reflected,transmitted) at the point where it strikes must be equal.it induces some phase relationship for these waves.
 

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