Problem Set - 8 Solutions

Physics of Waves 2025–26 (Autumn)

Problem 1
(a)
Given: h √ i
⃗
E = E0 (x̂ + Aẑ) exp ik0 (−ct + (x + 3z))
⃗
Comparing with ei(k·⃗r−ωt) , we get the wave vector:
√
⃗k = k0 (x̂ + 3ẑ) and ω = k0 c

The velocity is:

ω k0 c c
v= = √ =
|⃗k| k0 1 + 3 2
The refractive index is:
c
n= =2
v
⇒ ϵr = n2 = 4
Also, we know that the direction of the electric field (û) and the direction of propagation
of the EM wave (k̂) must be perpendicular to each other i.e. k̂ · û = 0
√ √
x̂ + Aẑ k0 (x̂ + 3ẑ) x̂ + 3ẑ
û = √ and k̂ = =
1 + A2 2k0 2
√
x̂ + 3ẑ x̂ + Aẑ √ 1
·√ = 0 ⇒ 1 + 3A = 0 ⇒ A = − √
2 1 + A2 3

(b)
Given: √
⃗ = H0 cos ωt − k(x +


H 3z) ŷ
The angle of incidence (θi ) is given by:

kx 1
tan θi = = √ ⇒ θi = 30◦
kz 3
According to the law of reflection:

θr = θi = 30◦

Now, applying Snell’s law:

n1 sin θi = n2 sin θt
For the given media:
√ √
n1 = εr µ r = 4 × 1 = 2, n2 = 1

Hence,
2 sin 30◦ = 1 · sin θt

sin θt = 1 ⇒ θt = 90◦
Therefore
θi = θr = 30◦ , θt = 90◦
The refracted ray propagates along the interface (grazing transmission).

Problem 2
(a)
For normal incidence:
EOR n1 − n 2 EOT 2n1
= , =
EOI n1 + n 2 EOI n1 + n 2
Here n1 = 1 and n2 = 2.42
Thus the ratio between reflected and incident amplitude:
EOR 1 − 2.42
= = −0.415
EOI 1 + 2.42

(b)
The ratio between transmitted and incident amplitude:
EOT 1
= = 0.585
EOI 1 + 2.42

Problem 3
(a)

n1 n2 n3
(v1 , k1 ) (v2 , k2 ) (v3 , k3 )
(EI , BI ) (E2+ , B2+ )
(ET , BT )
(ER , BR ) (E2− , B2− )

z
z=0 z=d

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Fields in different mediums:
Medium 1 (z < 0):
1
EI (z, t) = E0I ei(k1 z−ωt) x̂, BI (z, t) = E0I ei(k1 z−ωt) ŷ
v1
1
ER (z, t) = E0R ei(−k1 z−ωt) x̂, BR (z, t) = − E0R ei(−k1 z−ωt) ŷ
v1
Medium 2 (0 < z < d):
1
E2+ (z, t) = E02+ ei(k2 z−ωt) x̂, B2+ (z, t) = E02+ ei(k2 z−ωt) ŷ
v2
1
E2− (z, t) = E02− ei(−k2 z−ωt) x̂, B2− (z, t) = − E02− ei(−k2 z−ωt) ŷ
v2
Medium 3 (z > d):
1
ET (z, t) = E0T ei(k3 z−ωt) x̂, BT (z, t) = E0T ei(k3 z−ωt) ŷ
v3

(b)
Boundary conditions:
∥ ∥ ∥ ∥
E1 = E2 , B1 = B2 at z = 0
∥ ∥ ∥ ∥
E2 = E3 , B2 = B3 at z = d
Boundary conditions at z = 0:
1 1
E0I + E0R = E02+ + E02− , (E0I − E0R ) = (E02+ − E02− )
v1 v2
Boundary conditions at z = d:
1 1
E02+ eik2 d + E02− e−ik2 d = E0T eik3 d , (E02+ eik2 d − E02− e−ik2 d ) = E0T eik3 d
v2 v3

Problem 4
We have the boundary conditions

E0I + E0R = E02+ + E02− (1)

E0I − E0R = β(E02+ − E02− ) (2)

E02+ eik2 d + E02− e−ik2 d = E0T eik3 d (3)
E02+ eik2 d − E02− e−ik2 d = αE0T eik3 d (4)
v1 n2 v2 n3
where β = v2
= n1
and α = v3
= n2

Adding Eq. (1) and (2) we get

2E0I = E02+ (1 + β) + E02− (1 − β) (5)

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Adding Eq. (3) and (4) we get
1
2E02+ eik2 d = (1 + α)E0T eik3 d ⇒ E02+ = (1 + α)E0T eik3 d e−ik2 d (6)
2
subtracting
1
2E02− e−ik2 d = (1 − α)E0T eik3 d ⇒ E02− = (1 − α)E0T eik3 d eik2 d (7)
2
Putting the expressions for E02+ and E02− in Eq. (5) we get :
1 1
2E0I = (1 + β)(1 + α)E0T ei(k3 d−k2 d) + (1 − β)(1 − α)E0T ei(k3 d+k2 d)
2 2
eik2 d + e−ik2 d eik2 d − e−ik2 d
 
⇒ 2E0I = (1 + αβ) − (α + β) E0T eik3 d
2 2
⇒ 2E0I = [(1 + αβ) cos(k2 d) − i(α + β) sin(k2 d)]E0T eik3 d

Transmission coefficient (= Intensity of transmitted wave

Intensity of incident wave
):

IT n3 |E0T |2 |E0T |2
T = = = αβ
II n1 |E0I |2 |E0I |2
2
1 1
T −1 = [(1 + αβ) cos(k2 d) − i(α + β) sin(k2 d)]eik3 d
αβ 2
1 
T −1 (1 + αβ)2 cos2 (k2 d) + (α + β)2 sin2 (k2 d)

=
4αβ
1 
T −1 = (1 + αβ)2 + (α2 + 2αβ + β 2 − 1 − 2αβ − α2 β 2 ) sin2 (k2 d)

4αβ
1 
T −1 = (1 + αβ)2 − (1 − α2 )(1 − β 2 ) sin2 (k2 d)

4αβ
With α = nn23 , β = nn21 :

(n21 − n22 )(n23 − n22 ) 2 n2 ωd

  
−1 1 2
T = (n1 + n3 ) + sin
4n1 n3 n22 c

Problem 5
For perfect transmission T = 1. √
√
Here we have n1 = n3 = 1 and n2 = ϵr = 2.5. Putting these values in the expression
of T −1 , we can show that for perfect transmission we need sin(k2 d) = 0:
mπ mπc mπc mc
k2 d = mπ ⇒ d = = = =
k2 ωn2 mπνn2 2νn2
Minimum thickness (m = 1):

c 3 × 108
d= √ = √ = 9.49 × 10−3 m
2ν ϵr 9
2(10 × 10 ) 2.5

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Problem 6
Using the transmission coefficient formula:
(n21 − n22 )(n23 − n22 ) 2 n2 ωd
  
−1 1 2
T = (n1 + n3 ) + sin
4n1 n3 n22 c
With n1 = 34 , n2 = 23 , n3 = 1:
"  #
2 16 9 9



− 1−

3 7 3ωd
T −1 = + 9 4
9
4
sin2
16 3 4
2c
48
T = 85
sin2 3ωd


49 + 36 2c
Maximum transmission (sin2 = 0):
48
Tmax = = 0.980
49
Minimum transmission (sin2 = 1):
48
Tmin = = 0.935
49 + 85
36

The transmission is good for all frequencies. The expression for T is unchanged under
media 1 ↔ media 3, so the fish sees you just as well as you see it.

Problem 7
(a)
From Snell’s law:  
−1 sin θi
θt = sin
ng
The graph of θt versus θi is as follows:

Figure 1: θt versus θi

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(b)

air air
glass
θi

90◦ θt′

θ 90◦ − θi′ θi′

water

From the geometry of the prism, it can easily be seen that the angle of incidence at the
first surface is θi = 90◦ − θ (As the incident ray is parallel to the base of the prism).
Using Snell’s law, we have.

ng sin(θt′ ) = sin(90◦ − θ) ⇒ ng sin(θt′ ) = cos(θ)

where, ng (refractive index of the glass) = 3/2 and θt′ is the refraction angle at that
surface. Suppose, θi′ is the angle of incidence at the glass and water interface. Then,
again, from the geometry of the prism, we have

θi′ = θt′ + θ

For internal reflection at the glass-water interface:

nw
sin θi′ ≥
ng

nw
⇒ sin(θ + θt′ ) = sin θ cos θt′ + cos θ sin θt′ ≥
ng
Where nw is the refractive index of water. Using ng sinθt′ = cosθ we have
s
cos2 θ cos2 θ nw
⇒ sin θ · 1 − + ≥
n2g ng ng
s
cos2 θ
⇒ ng sin θ · 1− + cos2 θ ≥ nw
n2g
Let x = cos θ. Then: s
√ x2
ng 1 − x 2 · 1− + x2 ≥ nw
n2g
s
√ n2g − x2
ng 1 − x2 · + x2 ≥ nw
n2g
q
(1 − x2 )(n2g − x2 ) + x2 ≥ nw

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Squaring and simplifying leads to:
s
n2g − n2w
cos θ ≤
n2g + 1 − 2nw

Substitute ng = 23 , nw = 34 :
s s r
9
− 16 81−64



17
cos θ ≤ 9

4 9
4
= 9
36
8 =
4
+1−2· 3 4
+1− 3
21
r !
17
θ ≥ cos−1 ≈ 25.9◦
21
Thus, the minimum value of θ is approximately 25.9◦ .

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