Reflection and Refraction of Electromagnetic Waves at a Glass-Air Interface

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the reflection and refraction of a y-polarized electromagnetic wave with a vacuum wavelength of 600nm at a glass-air interface, using a refractive index of 1.4 for glass. The participant calculated the reflected electric field for an incident angle of 45 degrees, obtaining a reflected amplitude of -0.5016. The use of Snell's Law and the optical path length (OPL) was emphasized for determining angles and field amplitudes. The participant sought clarification on the correct approach to account for both reflection and refraction at the interface.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetic wave propagation
  • Familiarity with Snell's Law and refractive indices
  • Knowledge of optical path length (OPL) calculations
  • Experience with y-polarized electromagnetic fields
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of Fresnel equations for reflection and transmission coefficients
  • Learn about evanescent waves and their penetration depth in different media
  • Explore the impact of varying incident angles on reflectance and transmittance
  • Investigate the behavior of light at interfaces with complex refractive indices
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, particularly those studying optics and electromagnetic theory, as well as anyone involved in applications of wave propagation in different media.

Zaheer
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1. Consider a y-polarized electromagnetic wave with vacuum wavelength 600nm that is propagating in glass and then incident on a glass-air interface; use n=1.4 for glass. Take the interface surface to be the y-z plane, and the plane of incidence to be the x-z plane. Consider 2 incident angles, 45, and 80 degrees. Take the amplitude of the incident field to be Eo.

Write complete expressions for the reflected and transmitted electric fields If there are any evanescent fields, determine the depth of penetration into air.

Homework Equations


I've determined the E-field to be perpendicular to the plane of incidence so
r(perpendicular)= (E0r/E0i)= (nicos(thetai)-ntcos(thetat))/nicos(thetai)+ntcos(thetat)
then snells law nisin(thetai)=ntsin(thetat)
Then Possibly the O.P.L= INtegral from S to P n(s)ds
OPL/lamda0=s/lamda
t=OPL/c
where OPL is the Optical path length, n(s) is the index of refraction incident as a function of position.

The Attempt at a Solution


Okay, so I began with attempting to solve for the reflected E-field. So I first used Case 1 where thetai= 45. I solved for theta t, and got 30.3 degrees. then solved for the reflected amplitude and got -o.5016 (obtained by plugging in values to the E0r equation. So I wrote the Reflectance to be the following

r(perpendicualar)= -0.5016/Eo. I don't think that's right at all due to the fact that it should also refract in glass, then reflect so off air, and refract in air, I only took the case where it relfects of glass. I am almost completley stuck, tried reviewing sections to try and understand this problem better but haven't been able to. Could anyone just help shoot me in the right direction please? Thanks.
 
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bump, really needing help please
 
HELPPPPPPPP
AHHHH
 
BUMP
 
HOLY bump again. At this point I've done the problem. I just want some reassurance.
 
Hi Zaheer could you please respond to my messege I believe you must have been taking phy2311 at uottawa, because I had been searching for answers to the assignments and usually come across your posts, could you please write back to me if you find a minute I have a question from you. Thank you in advance.
 

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