What Is the Fresnel Reflection & Refraction Dielectric Interface Calculator?
Fresnel equations describe the reflection and transmission of electromagnetic plane waves at planar boundaries between dielectric media.
They explain everyday optical phenomena such as glare from water, antireflection coatings, and polarizing sunglasses.
How Does the Fresnel Reflection & Refraction Dielectric Interface Calculator Work?
Light is decomposed into s-polarization (electric field perpendicular to plane of incidence) and p-polarization (parallel).
At normal incidence (0 deg), reflection is identical for both polarizations (approx. 4% for air-to-glass).
At Brewster's angle, p-polarized reflectance drops to zero, producing 100% polarized reflected light.
Fresnel Reflection & Refraction Dielectric Interface Calculator Formula & Variables
The core mathematical equation utilized by this calculator is expressed as:
Calculates Fresnel power reflection coefficients for s- and p-polarized light and Brewster angle.
How to Use the Fresnel Reflection & Refraction Dielectric Interface Calculator
- Input refractive indices for both media (n1 and n2).
- Specify the angle of incidence in degrees from normal.
- Review power reflectances for unpolarized, s-polarized, and p-polarized light.
Step-by-Step Example Calculation
Fresnel Reflection Standard Case
Input Values:
Understanding Your Result
Unpolarized reflectance is the arithmetic average of Rs and Rp.
Transmittance is 1 - R for non-absorbing dielectric media.
Brewster angle indicates where reflected glare is completely linearly polarized.
Factors That Affect the Result
- Refractive index contrast: Higher index mismatches (e.g., air-to-diamond, n=2.42) produce much stronger reflection.
- Polarization state: P-polarized light reflects significantly less than s-polarized light at oblique angles.
- Total Internal Reflection: Occurs when light travels from dense to rare media (n1 > n2) beyond the critical angle.
When Should You Use This Calculator?
- Designing laser cavity Brewster windows for zero-loss p-polarized transmission.
- Evaluating anti-reflective coatings and optical prism beam splitters.
Assumptions & Limitations
- Assumes non-magnetic, non-absorbing dielectrics with real refractive indices.
- Assumes atomically smooth planar interfaces without diffuse surface scattering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Calculation Accuracy & Reference Note
Exact solutions of Maxwell boundary conditions for planar electromagnetic waves.