Final answer:
The Fresnel equations describe the behavior of light at an interface between two media with different refractive indices. For a case where the ratio of the refractive indices is 1.5, there is no Brewster angle, and the reflected wave is always 180 degrees out of phase with the incident wave. The reflection and transmission coefficients can be computed using the Fresnel equations and satisfy the conservation of energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Fresnel equations describe the behavior of light at an interface between two media with different refractive indices. The incident wave is the light wave traveling towards the interface, the reflected wave is the portion of the incident wave that bounces back, and the transmitted wave is the portion of the incident wave that passes through the interface. The boundary conditions are applied to ensure that the electric field and its derivative are continuous across the interface.
The Fresnel equations for the reflection and transmission coefficients are derived by solving the boundary conditions. For a case where the ratio of the refractive indices, β, is equal to 1.5, there is no Brewster angle, which is the angle of incidence where the reflected wave becomes purely polarized. In this case, the reflected wave is always 180 degrees out of phase with the incident wave.
The reflection coefficient (R) and the transmission coefficient (T) can be computed using the Fresnel equations. The reflection coefficient represents the fraction of the incident wave that is reflected, while the transmission coefficient represents the fraction of the incident wave that is transmitted. These coefficients are related by the conservation of energy, such that R + T = 1.