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Fresnel Equations Derivation in Optics

This document derives the Fresnel equations, which describe the ratio of reflected to incident light intensity at the boundary between two dielectric media, taking into account polarization. It first discusses TE polarization, where the electric field is perpendicular to the plane of reflection. Applying boundary conditions from electromagnetism yields an equation relating the reflected and transmitted electric field amplitudes. This leads to the TE Fresnel equation. A similar process is followed for TM polarization, where the magnetic field is perpendicular, resulting in the TM Fresnel equation.

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21 views3 pages

Fresnel Equations Derivation in Optics

This document derives the Fresnel equations, which describe the ratio of reflected to incident light intensity at the boundary between two dielectric media, taking into account polarization. It first discusses TE polarization, where the electric field is perpendicular to the plane of reflection. Applying boundary conditions from electromagnetism yields an equation relating the reflected and transmitted electric field amplitudes. This leads to the TE Fresnel equation. A similar process is followed for TM polarization, where the magnetic field is perpendicular, resulting in the TM Fresnel equation.

Uploaded by

arijit manna
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Physics 263

Deriving the Fresnel Equations

1 Introduction
The intensity of light reflected from the surface of a dielectric, as a function of the angle
of incidence was first obtained by Fresnel in 1827.
When an electromagnetic wave strikes the surface of a dielectric, both reflected and
refracted waves are generally produced. The reflected wave has a direction given by the
Law of Reflection1 :
r = i
where the angles are between the rays and a line perpendicular to the reflecting surface.

Electromagnetic theory predicts the ratio of the intensity of the reflected light to the
intensity of the incident light. The polarization of the light with respect to the plane of
reflection 2 must be taken into account. There are two extreme cases: (1) the electric
field is perpendicular to the plane of reflection, called Transverse Electric, and (2) the
magnetic field is perpendicular to the plane of reflection, Transverse Magnetic.

1
The Laws of reflection and refraction are actually theorems which can be derived from electromag-
netic theory
2
The plane of reflection is the plane defined by the incident and reflected rays.
These two cases are illustrated in the figure below:

Figure 1: TE and TM reflections. The dot shows the direction of the electric field in the
TE case, and the magnetic field in the TM case.

2 TE Equation
The laws of electromagnetism, applied to this case, give the following boundary conditions:

1. The perpendicular component of B is continuous across the boundary between the


two media.

2. The parallel component of E is continuous across the boundary between the two
media.

In this case, since E is parallel to the boundary,

Ei + Er = Et

The continuity of the perpendicular components of B is expressed by

Bi cos i Br cos r = Bt cos t

To eliminate B, we use the relations


E k
=c= so B = E
B k
Now is the same in both media, so

k1 (Ei Er ) cos i = k2 Et cos t

where we have used the law of reflection: i = r ,

2
The index of refraction, n is generally
c c k
n= = = c
v k

So, cancelling and c,


n1 (Ei Er ) cos i = n2 Et cos t
Substituting for Et gives

Ei (n1 cos i n2 cos t ) = Er (n1 cos i + n2 cos t )

So the ratio of reflected to incident amplitudes is

Er (n1 cos i n2 cos t )


=
Ei (n1 cos i + n2 cos t )

Now let n = n2 /n1 , then the above equation becomes

Er (cos i n cos t )
=
Ei (cos i + ncos t )

Finally we use the law of refraction: n1 sin i = n2 sin t to write


s
q
sin2 i
cos t = 1 sin t 2 = 1
n2
And so,
!
Er cos n2 sin 2
=
Ei cos + n2 sin 2

The intensity ratio is then


!2
Ir cos n2 sin 2
RT E = = (1)
Ii cos + n2 sin 2

3 TM Equation
For the transverse magnetic case, using similar methods, the result is
!2
Ir n2 cos + n2 sin 2
RT M = = (2)
Ii n2 cos + n2 sin 2

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