Reflection and Transmission of Plane Waves

Abstract

The propagation of waves in free space and in materials was discussed at some length in Chapter 12. In this chapter, we discuss properties of waves as they propagate through different materials and changes in their amplitudes and directions as they propagate through the interfaces between materials. This aspect of the propagation of waves is fundamental and many of the properties of waves are defined by materials and their interfaces. As an example, waves are reflected from conducting surfaces giving rise to so-called standing waves. The various properties depend on the materials involved, the direction of propagation, and the polarization of the waves. To keep the discussion simple and within the context of plane waves, we will look at a number of simple interface conditions. These include perpendicular and oblique incidences on conducting and dielectric interfaces, conditions often encountered in applications.

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

—Sir William Bragg, Nobel Laureate, 1915, on Electromagnetics