Reflection and transmission of strongly focused light beams at a dielectric interface

Abstract

The reflection and transmission of tightly focused azimuthally, radially and linearly polarized electromagnetic wave beams with subwavelength spot size and wavefront curvature at a dielectric interface are investigated. For a given wavefront radius, the existence of the optimal radius of beam spot corresponding to a minimal reflectance and maximal transmittance is shown. Significant lateral shift in the transmitted intensity peak is revealed for strongly focused azimuthally and radially polarized beams that are normally incident to an interface. The reflection and transmission of transverse-electric- and transverse-magnetic- polarized extremely narrow wave beams which are obliquely incident on the dielectric interface is analysed. Disappearance of the Brewster angle and total internal reflection effects for the strongly focused beams are predicted. The change in beam profile after reflection and transmission for different polarizations, incident beam spots and incidence angles are analysed.