The propagation of light / Chapter 2 P2205/2023/page79
2-7) The Fresnel Equations
suppose that a plane monochromatic wave is incident on the planar surface separating two isotropic media. Whatever the
polarization of the wave, we shall resolve its 𝐸- and 𝐵-fields into components parallel and perpendicular to the plane-of-
incidence and treat these constituents separately.
The propagation of light / Chapter 2 P2205/2023/page80
Case 1: 𝑬 perpendicular to the plane-of-incidence.
Assume that 𝐸 is perpendicular to the plane-of-incidence and that 𝐵 is parallel to it (The figure below).
𝑘 𝐵 𝐵
Recall that 𝐸 = 𝑣𝐵, so that × 𝐸 = 𝐸 = 𝑣𝐵 then:
𝑘 𝐵 𝐵
𝑘
× 𝐸 = 𝑣𝐵 (94)
𝑘
And
𝑘
. 𝐸 = 0 (95)
𝑘
𝑘
𝐸
𝐵
The propagation of light / Chapter 2 P2205/2023/page81
Again, making use of the continuity of the tangential components of the 𝐸-field, we have at the boundary at any time and
any point 𝐸𝑇−𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 = 𝐸𝑇−𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤 then 𝐸0𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑘𝑖 . 𝑟Ԧ − 𝑤𝑖 𝑡 + 𝐸0𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑘𝑟 . 𝑟Ԧ − 𝑤𝑟 𝑡 = 𝐸0𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝑘𝑡 . 𝑟Ԧ − 𝑤𝑡 𝑡)|𝑦=0 and while
𝑘𝑖 . 𝑟Ԧ − 𝑤𝑖 𝑡 |𝑦=𝑏 = 𝑘𝑟 . 𝑟Ԧ − 𝑤𝑟 𝑡 + 𝜀𝑟 |𝑦=𝑏 = (𝑘𝑡 . 𝑟Ԧ − 𝑤𝑡 𝑡 + 𝜀𝑡 )|𝑦=0 then
𝐸0𝑖 + 𝐸0𝑟 = 𝐸0𝑡 (96)
For the magnetic field, we have the BC on the interface: 𝐻𝑇−𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 = 𝐻𝑇−𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤 (97)
But from the figure below, we can write:
𝐵𝑖∥ 𝐵𝑟∥ 𝐵𝑡∥
+ = (98)
𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑟 𝜇𝑡
Project on x-axis, we get:
𝐵𝑖∥
𝐵𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 𝐵𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑟 𝐵𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
− + =− (99)
𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑟 𝜇𝑡
We have
𝐵𝑖 = 𝐸𝑖ൗ𝑣𝑖 𝑛𝑖 = 𝑐Τ𝑣𝑖
𝐵𝑟 = 𝐸𝑟ൗ𝑣𝑟 and ൞𝑛𝑟 = 𝑐Τ𝑣𝑟 (100)
𝐵𝑡 = 𝐸𝑡ൗ𝑣𝑡 𝑛𝑡 = 𝑐Τ𝑣𝑡
The propagation of light / Chapter 2 P2205/2023/page82
𝑛𝑖 𝐸𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 𝑛𝑟 𝐸𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑟 𝑛𝑡 𝐸𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
By replacing Eq. (100) in Eq. (99) we get: − + =− and since 𝑛𝑟 = 𝑛𝑖 and 𝜃𝑖 = 𝜃𝑟 and 𝜇𝑖
𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑟 𝜇𝑡
= 𝜇𝑟 then
𝑛𝑖 𝑛𝑡
𝐸𝑖 − 𝐸𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 = 𝐸𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 (101)
𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑡
But for y=0, the cosines are cancelled, then
𝑛𝑖 𝑛𝑡
𝐸0𝑖 − 𝐸0𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 = 𝐸0𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 (102)
𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑡
𝑛𝑖 𝑛𝑡
We can write it as 1 − 𝐸0𝑟 /𝐸0𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 = (𝐸0𝑡 /𝐸0𝑖 )𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 (103)
𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑡
𝐸0𝑟
Eq. (96) gives 1+ = 𝐸0𝑡 /𝐸0𝑖 (104)
𝐸0𝑖
Combine Eq. (103) and Eq. (104), we obtain
𝑛𝑖 𝑛
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 − 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
𝐸0𝑟 𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑡
( ) = (105)
𝐸𝑜𝑖 ⊥
𝑛𝑖 𝑛
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 + 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑡
And
𝑛
2 𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖
𝐸0𝑡 𝜇𝑖
( ) = 𝑛𝑖 (106)
𝐸𝑜𝑖 ⊥ 𝑛
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 + 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑡
The propagation of light / Chapter 2 P2205/2023/page83
The ⊥ subscript serves as a reminder that we are dealing with the case in which 𝐸 is perpendicular to the plane-of-
incidence. These two expressions, which are completely general statements applying to any linear, isotropic, homogeneous
media, are two of the Fresnel Equations. Most often one deals with non-magnetic dielectrics for which 𝜇𝑖 = 𝜇𝑡 = 𝜇0 ;
consequently, the common form of these equations is simply
𝐸0𝑟 𝑛𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 − 𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
𝑟⊥ = ( )⊥ = (107)
𝐸𝑜𝑖 𝑛𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 + 𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
And
𝐸0𝑡 2𝑛𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖
𝑡⊥ = ( )⊥ = (108)
𝐸𝑜𝑖 𝑛𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 + 𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
Here 𝑟⊥ denotes the amplitude reflection coefficient, and 𝑡⊥ is the amplitude transmission coefficient.
We can write them without the indices of refraction:
𝐸0𝑟 −sin(𝜃𝑖 −𝜃𝑡 )
𝑟⊥ = ( ) = (109)
𝐸𝑜𝑖 ⊥ sin(𝜃𝑖 +𝜃𝑡 )
And
𝐸0𝑡 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖
𝑡⊥ = ( )⊥ = (110)
𝐸𝑜𝑖 sin(𝜃𝑖 +𝜃𝑡 )
The propagation of light / Chapter 2 P2205/2023/page84
Proof
𝑛𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖
We know that 𝑛𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 = 𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 then 𝑛𝑡 = then Eq. (107) :
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡
𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖
𝐸0𝑟 𝑛𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 − 𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 −𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡
𝑟⊥ = ( )⊥ = 𝑛𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 =
𝐸𝑜𝑖 𝑛𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 +𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡
1
and using 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑏 = [sin 𝑎 + 𝑏 + sin 𝑎 − 𝑏 ] we get
2
𝐸0𝑟 −sin(𝜃𝑖 −𝜃𝑡 )
𝑟⊥ = ( )⊥ =
𝐸𝑜𝑖 sin(𝜃𝑖 +𝜃𝑡 )
𝐸0𝑡 2𝑛𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖
Now, Eq. (108): 𝑡⊥ = ( )⊥ = 𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 =………=
𝐸𝑜𝑖 𝑛𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 + 𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 sin(𝜃𝑖 +𝜃𝑡 )
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡
The propagation of light / Chapter 2 P2205/2023/page85
Case 2: 𝑬 parallel to the plane-of-incidence.
Assume that 𝐸 is parallel to the plane-of-incidence and that 𝐵 is perpendicular to it (The figure below).
Again, making use of the continuity of the tangential
components of the 𝐸-field, 𝐸𝑇−𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 = 𝐸𝑇−𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤 that’s
leads to Eq. (96): 𝐸0𝑖 + 𝐸0𝑟 = 𝐸0𝑡
𝐸𝑖
𝜃𝑖
𝐸𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖
𝜃𝑖
Then, we have at the boundary at any time and any point:
𝐸0𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 − 𝐸0𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑟 = 𝐸0𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 (111)
For the magnetic field, we have the BC on the interface: 𝐻𝑇−𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 = 𝐻𝑇−𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤
then
𝐵0𝑖 𝐵 𝐵
+ 0𝑟 = 0𝑡 (112)
𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑟 𝜇𝑡
The propagation of light / Chapter 2 P2205/2023/page86
By using 𝐸 = 𝑣𝐵 , we can rewrite Eq. (112) as:
𝐸0𝑖 𝐸0𝑟 𝐸0𝑡
+ = (113)
𝑣𝑖 𝜇𝑖 𝑣𝑟 𝜇𝑟 𝑣𝑡 𝜇𝑡
𝑐
And use 𝑛 = , we get
𝑣
𝑛𝑖 𝐸0𝑖 𝑛𝑟 𝐸0𝑟 𝑛𝑡 𝐸0𝑡
+ = (114)
𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑟 𝜇𝑡
By considering 𝑛𝑟 = 𝑛𝑖 and 𝜃𝑖 = 𝜃𝑟 and 𝜇𝑖 = 𝜇𝑟 then
𝑛𝑡 𝑛
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 − 𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
𝐸0𝑟 𝜇𝑡 𝜇𝑖
𝑟∥ = ( ) = (115)
𝐸𝑜𝑖 ∥
𝑛𝑖 𝑛
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 + 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖
𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑡
And
𝑛
2 𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖
𝐸0𝑡 𝜇𝑖
𝑡∥ = ( )∥ = 𝑛𝑖 𝑛 (116)
𝐸𝑜𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 + 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖
𝜇𝑖 𝜇𝑡
The propagation of light / Chapter 2 P2205/2023/page87
When both media forming the interface are dielectrics that are essentially “nonmagnetic” , the amplitude coefficients
become
𝐸0𝑟 𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 − 𝑛𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡
𝑟∥ = ( )∥ = (117)
𝐸𝑜𝑖 𝑛𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 + 𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖
And
𝐸0𝑡 2𝑛𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖
𝑡∥ = ( )∥ = (118)
𝐸𝑜𝑖 𝑛𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 + 𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖
We can write them without the indices of refraction:
𝐸0𝑟 tan(𝜃𝑖 −𝜃𝑡 )
𝑟∥ = ( )∥ = (119)
𝐸𝑜𝑖 tan(𝜃𝑖 +𝜃𝑡 )
And
𝐸0𝑡 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖
𝑡∥ = ( )∥ = (120)
𝐸𝑜𝑖 sin 𝜃𝑖 +𝜃𝑡 cos(𝜃𝑖 −𝜃𝑡 )
The propagation of light / Chapter 2 P2205/2023/page88
Proof
𝑛𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖
We know that 𝑛𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 = 𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 then 𝑛𝑡 = then Eq. (117) becomes
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 −𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 𝑎+𝑏 𝑎−𝑏
𝑟∥ = and by using (𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝑎 = 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑎) , [𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑎 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑏 = 2 cos sin( )] and
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 +𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 2 2
𝑎+𝑏 𝑎−𝑏 𝐸0𝑟 tan(𝜃𝑖 −𝜃𝑡 )
[𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑎 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑏 = 2 sin cos ] we get: 𝑟∥ = ( )∥ =
2 2 𝐸𝑜𝑖 tan(𝜃𝑖 +𝜃𝑡 )
The same for Eq. (118):
2𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 2𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 2𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡
𝑡∥ = = =
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑖 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑡 1 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃 + 1 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃 sin 𝜃𝑖 + 𝜃𝑡 cos(𝜃𝑖 − 𝜃𝑡 )
2 𝑖 2 𝑡
