Wave Optics

JEE Main level, single correct, medium

160 of 191

Question 160 of 191

An unpolarized light is incident on the plane interface of air-dielectric medium shown in figure. If the incident angle is equal to Brewster angle, identify the expression representing reflected wave.

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Answer: (A) (Exi^+Eyj^)sin⁡(kx−kz−ωt)(E_x\hat{i} + E_y\hat{j})\sin(kx - kz - \omega t)

From the given figure, the incident light rays lie in the xzxz-plane. Therefore, the plane of incidence is the xzxz-plane.

The incident wave travels from the air (
z<0z \lt 0) towards the medium (z>0z \gt 0), so it propagates in the +x+x and +z+z directions. The reflected wave will travel back into the air, meaning it propagates in the +x+x and −z-z directions.

The wave vector for the reflected wave can be written as
k⃗r=kxi^−kzk^\vec{k}_r = k_x \hat{i} - k_z \hat{k}.
The phase of the reflected wave is given by
k⃗r⋅r⃗−ωt=kxx−kzz−ωt\vec{k}_r \cdot \vec{r} - \omega t = k_x x - k_z z - \omega t. This phase matches the expression in option (1).

According to Brewster's law, when unpolarized light is incident at the Brewster angle, the reflected light is completely polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence. Since the plane of incidence is the
xzxz-plane, the reflected electric field must be entirely along the yy-axis (j^\hat{j} direction).

Let us verify this with option (1), which gives the electric field as
E⃗=Exi^+Eyj^\vec{E} = E_x \hat{i} + E_y \hat{j}.
For an electromagnetic wave, the electric field must be perpendicular to the direction of propagation, so
k⃗r⋅E⃗=0\vec{k}_r \cdot \vec{E} = 0.
(kxi^−kzk^)⋅(Exi^+Eyj^)=0(k_x \hat{i} - k_z \hat{k}) \cdot (E_x \hat{i} + E_y \hat{j}) = 0
kxEx=0k_x E_x = 0

Since
kx≠0k_x \neq 0, we must have Ex=0E_x = 0. This leaves E⃗=Eyj^\vec{E} = E_y \hat{j}, which means the wave is purely polarized along the yy-axis. This perfectly satisfies the condition for reflection at the Brewster angle.

Thus, the correct expression representing the reflected wave is
(Exi^+Eyj^)sin⁡(kx−kz−ωt)(E_x\hat{i} + E_y\hat{j})\sin(kx - kz - \omega t).

Answer:
(Exi^+Eyj^)sin⁡(kx−kz−ωt)(E_x\hat{i} + E_y\hat{j})\sin(kx - kz - \omega t)

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