Electromagnetic waves (Question 1 (15 Marks)) — UPSC Physics Optional CSE 2009 Paper I

Consider the incidence of a plane-polarised electromagnetic wave at the interface of two media having dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability (\varepsilon_1, \mu_1) and (\varepsilon_2, \mu_2) respectively. The interface is chosen to be x = 0 plane. \vec{K}_1, \vec{K}_2 and \vec{K}_3 represent the propagator vectors associated with the incident, refracted and reflected waves respectively. Using the boundary conditions on them, establish the Snell's laws of refraction.