Why don't metals polarize light on reflection

AI Thread Summary
Metals do not polarize light upon reflection because their reflection coefficients remain constant regardless of the angle, maintaining a magnitude of 1. In contrast, dielectrics exhibit different reflection coefficients for parallel and perpendicular polarizations, which vary with the angle of incidence. The Brewster angle occurs when one of these coefficients becomes zero, resulting in purely polarized light. A conceptual explanation for polarization in dielectrics is that the electric field vector can be shortened by tilting it, affecting the impedance match with the material. This interaction leads to a unique reflection behavior in dielectrics that does not occur with metals.
peter.ell
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I know that dielectrics polarize light reflected at/near the Brewster angle, but why is it that metals never do this, only dielectrics?

Also, does anyone know of a good, simple conceptual explanation for why light becomes polarized when it's reflected from dielectrics?
 
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The reflection coefficients for light reflecting off metal don't change with angle and have magnitude 1.

For dielectrics the parallel and perp coefficients are different and vary with angle. Brewster angle is where one of them is zero leaving a pure polarized reflection.
 
Conceptual explanation is you will not have a reflection if the ratio of E to H matches the impedance of the material. For a dielectric you can shorten the E vector in space in front of the material by tilting it. For the other orientation the H gets shorter and that only increases the reflection since tge transmitted wave has to have a smaller E.
 
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