Stokes Tensor Relations on the Anisotropic Media Boundary

Abstract

Abstract Given is a tensor operator generalization for the anisotropic case of the Stokes relations, well known in optics of isotropic media. The generalized relations connect Fresnel's reflection and transmission operators that relate to problems of the ‘direct’ and ‘inverse’ normal incidence of a plane wave on a plane interface of two half-infinite linear homogeneous gyroanisotropic media. Example evaluation of the Fresnel tensor for the case of an interface between a vacuum and an anisotropic optical active medium of class 4 2 2 is given. The evolution solution of tensor Helmholz equation for homogeneous isotropic media is obtained. The solution is represented in such a basis that one of its directions coincides with the propagation direction. It is shown that there is an infinite set of involuntary 2 × 2 matrices Z entering wave inversion for all possible types of polarization. Matrix Z components are found to be connected by relations similar to the Stokes ones.