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Lecture 2
Reflection and Refraction, Snells Law
[Reading assignment: Hecht 4.3, 4.4, 4.7]
An important element of optics is the interface between 2 materials with different index of refraction
1
reflected ray
n1
n2
2
refracted ray
n 1 sin 1 = n 2 sin 2
n
sin
if n 2 n 1
------------1- = ----2-
sin 2
n1
if n 1 n 2
2 1
2 1
Total Reflection
If n 1 n 2 , then we can have
1
2 = 90
n2
sin c = ----n1
2 = 90
c = sin n 2 n 1
The refracted ray disappears! The light is totally reflected. This usually occurs inside a prism , and is
called total internal reflection. c = critical angle. For a typical glass with n = 1.5 , the critical angle
is:
1 1
sin ------- = 41.8
1.5
Lecture 2
So for = 45 , the light is reflected. A very common prism is the right angle prism
45
90
45
n2
E 1s
E 1p
normal
E 1s
E 2p
E 2s
p-polarization
(parallel to plane of incidence)
s-polarization
For a general polarization state incident on a surface, we choose s and p directions to decompose the
polarization effects.
Fresnel Reflection Coefficients
[Optional reading: Hecht 4.6]
The magnitude of reflection and transmission at an interface between n 1 and n 2 are given by
2
4sin 2 cos 1
n 2 cos 2
T p = -------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------n 1 cos 1 sin 2 + cos 2
1
2
1
2
tan 2 1
R p = --------------------------------2
tan 2 + 1
sin 2 1
R s = -------------------------------2
sin 2 + 1
Lecture 2
near 1 = 0
2
n 2 n1
R s = R p = ----------------- . For n = 1.5 R 4%
n 2 + n 1
Notice also, if
n2
tan 1 = ----n1
E
x
E
linear polarization
y-direction
left circular
polarization
linear polarization
x-direction
y
E
right circular
polarization
elliptical
polarization
unpolarized
(polarization-vector)
fluctuates randomly
Lecture 2
Ex
Ey
Linear, 45
Circular
p-component
polarization
s-component
Prisms
[Reading assignment: Hecht, 5.5. See also Smith Ch. 4]
Dispersing prism
Lets calculate the total deviation angle, .
1 2
index n
air n 1
Total deviation is = 1 1 + ( 2 2 )
Notice that
4
Lecture 2
A = --- 1
2
B = --- 2
2
but A + B + = so 2 = 1 , then
= 1 1 + 2 + 1 = 1 + 2
1
also sin 1 = --- sin 1 , and sin 2 = nsin 2 . Now, writing in terms of 1 and n :
= 1 + sin n sin 2
1
sin n sin 1
= 1 + sin
12
1
, and sin 1 = --- sin 1 . Then
n
12
2
1
n sin 1 ----- sin 1
cos sin 1
2
n
12
cos sin 1
his formula shows that the deviation increases with increasing index n . For most materials
n increases with decreasing This is the basis for the splitting of white light into colors by the prism.
white
light
red
yellow
green
blue