Physlet Illustration: Interfaces

 

 
Index Of Region On Right = 

In this simulation, light is incident from the left on an interface between two regions with different indices of refraction.  The user may vary the index of the region on the right from 1.0 to 4.0. The incident wave is shown in blue. The reflected wave is shown in red, and the total in either region is shown in brown.  How are the waves affected by the interface?   

Hints:

  1. With the indices equal how much is reflected?  How much is transmitted?
  2. Change the index of the right region to a value greater than 2.  How large is the reflected wave now?  What is its phase relationship with the incident wave?
  3. Increase the index of the right region further.  What does this affect?  The phase of the reflected wave?  The amplitude of the reflected wave?  
  4. Change the index of the region on the right to a value less than 2.  How large is the reflected wave now?  What is its phase relationship with the incident wave?
  5. Decrease the index of the right region further.  What does this affect?  The phase of the reflected wave?  The amplitude of the reflected wave?  

Reference

See Walker, Sections 28-3

Illustration written by Chuck Niederriter