Abstract

The polarizing angle ${\theta }_{\mathrm{pol}}$ is the angle of incidence at which an incident wave of arbitrary polarization becomes linearly polarized on reflection. In terms of the reflection amplitudes it is given by $r_{\mathit{pp}}{r}_{\mathit{ss}}-r_{\mathit{ps}}{r}_{\mathit{sp}}=0.$ We show that it may be obtained by the solution of a quartic equation. This equation is closely related to the quartic that defines the Brewster angle ${\theta }_{\mathit{pp}}$ at which $r_{\mathit{pp}}$ is zero, previously obtained. The angles ${\theta }_{\mathrm{pol}}$ and ${\theta }_{\mathit{pp}}$ are compared and contrasted. A method of identifying the physical root or roots of each quartic is given. Index matching enhances the difference between ${\theta }_{\mathrm{pol}}$ and ${\theta }_{\mathit{pp}}.$

© 1999 Optical Society of America

Brewster angles in reflection by uniaxial crystals

John Lekner
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 10(9) 2059-2064 (1993)

Reflection ellipsometry of uniaxial crystals

John Lekner
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 14(6) 1359-1362 (1997)

Electric polarization and its relationship to Brewster’s angle for interfaces with uniaxial crystals

Karin V. Gottschalk and Marı́a C. Simon
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 18(3) 673-677 (2001)

Reflection from uniaxial crystals: symmetries, and formulae for near-normal incidence

John Lekner
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 40(4) 722-728 (2023)

Difference between the second-Brewster and pseudo-Brewster angles when polarized light is reflected at a dielectric–conductor interface

A. Alsamman and R. M. A. Azzam
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 27(5) 1156-1161 (2010)