Case#3: θ1 > θc
Figure (5.5c) shows the case for θ1 > θc. Equation (5.3.3c) of Snell's refraction law shows that sinθ2 > 1. Therefore, there is no real solution to the angle θ2. However, the wave propagation in medium #2 requires sinθ2 and cosθ2, not the value of the angle of refraction θ2. The sinθ2 and cosθ2 could be obtained from Snell's Law given by equation (5.2.7c), also from the wavevector k2 and its x and y‐directed components k2x and k2y using equation (5.2.1):
Figure 5.5 Oblique incidence of plane wave at three different angles of incidence.
The negative (−) value is selected in further computation as it provides exponentially decaying fields with distance from the interface in the medium #2. The choice of positive (+) value results in the exponentially growing field with the distance that is physically not possible in a usual passive medium. The expressions (5.3.5b,d,e) are used for both the TE and TM polarization to compute the reflection and transmission coefficients, and also the refracted fields in medium #2 for the case θ1 > θc
TE Polarization
Equation (5.2.8c,d) for the reflection and transmission coefficients of the obliquely incident TE‐polarized wave, using an equation (5.3.5a) are reduced to the following expression:
(5.3.6)
The interface surface acts as a PMC surface for the TE‐polarized incident wave under the case θ1 ≥ θc because
For the case θ1 > θc, the electric and magnetic field component and power flow of the TE‐polarized wave in the medium #2 is obtained from using equation (5.3.5) with equation (5.2.10a):
In equation (5.3.7a,b,c), the y‐directed wavevector k2y and attenuation factor α are given by equation (5.3.5). Equation (5.3.7a,b,c) shows that along the direction normal to the interface, i.e. + x‐direction, the field is exponentially decaying in medium #2; showing the confinement of field near the interface. However, the wave propagates in the y‐direction. It is also evident from the complex Poynting vector giving real power transportation in the y‐direction, while imaginary power shows storages of energy in the x‐directed evanescent field. So the interface supports a surface wave, excited at the interface of two media by the obliquely TE‐polarized incident plane wave at the angle of incidence θ1 ≥ θc. The surface wave, in more detail, is discussed in chapter 7. Its phase velocity along the y‐axis is
In equation (5.3.8), as εr1 > εr2; so
TM Polarization
All three cases of the angle of incidence apply to the TM‐polarized obliquely incident plane wave. For θ1 > θc, the reflection and transmission coefficients of the TM‐polarization, given by equation (5.2.28) are reduced to
The electric and magnetic field components of the TM polarization, also the complex Poynting vector in the medium #2 under θ1 > θc, could be obtained using equation (5.3.5), from equation (5.2.18). The results are summarized below:
The expression (5.3.9a) shows that there is a total reflection