The discussion focuses on the application of the Fresnel Equations to demonstrate that light incident at Brewster's angle (θp = 1/2*π - θt) results in a polarized reflected beam. Participants emphasize the importance of understanding the physical implications of the angles involved rather than merely substituting values into equations. The conversation highlights the necessity of using the parallel reflectance equation of Fresnel's to establish the polarization of the reflected light, particularly when the transmitted beam is perpendicular to the reflected beam.
PREREQUISITESStudents and educators in physics, particularly those studying optics, as well as researchers and professionals working with polarized light and its applications in various technologies.
You have to start by understanding the problem that is in front of you in terms of physics and not in terms of plugging numbers into equations. ##\theta_p## is just the name they've given to this particular angle of incidence. They could have given it any letter in any language - the vast majority of which won't appear in any formulation of the Fresnel equation.I cannot find a Fresnel equation that has θp in it. And even if I did, I wouldn't know weather to use the perpendicular or parallel reflection equation.
What?transmitted beam's non-incident angle
... that's OK, you don't have to be sure. Being unsure means you have something to be unsure about. If you are drawing a total blank, though, then you just have to go back over your lessons in using the Fresnel equations and about reflection.I'm not sure what sort of reflection is happening here.
Yeah, that would be a much better way of describing it. I believe that this is true in this scenario.What?
You mean the reflected ray is perpendicular to the transmitted one?
Yeah, so the incident beam is unpolarized.Notice that you have to prove that the reflected beam is polarized - this suggests an unpolarized incedent beam doesn't it?