Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Publication Date

8-19-1966

Abstract

The existence of a surface wave accompanying total internal reflection of light in a dielectric material was derived classically to satisfy boundary conditions at the surface. Using this fact, in 1929 J. Picht proposed a mechanism for total reflection that led to the conclusion that a finite ray of light would undergo a small translation at the boundary, parallel to the boundary and in the plane of incidence. In 1943 Goos and Hänchen made quantitative measurements of this translation or shift. Subsequently many theories have been advanced analyzing this phenomenon in detail, but as of this writing no other experimental evidence has been reported.

In addition to a shift of the center of a beam of the order of a micron in the reflection of a ray of light, other experiments with light incident at angles very near the critical angle have indicated the presence of “surface waves” carrying significant quantities of energy over distances as far as several centimeters before re-entering the denser medium. It is not known whether such waves are of the sane type as those accompanying total reflection; however, they may play a role in a type of scattering from water droplets as observed in the glory phenomenon.

The purpose of this project is to investigate surface wave phenomena at a plane horizontal water-air interface in support of other experiments on the back scattering of light from water droplets. In this context, the main objectives are to detect and measure surface waves and/or their effects, such as the Goos- Hänchen shift. A helium-neon gas laser is called for to provide light of the same wave­length as used in the other experiments and to obtain the best combination of desirable characteristics of the light ray.

Degree Name

Physics

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Physics & Astronomy

First Committee Member (Chair)

Howard Carnes Bryant

Second Committee Member

Robert H. Koch

Third Committee Member

Christopher Dean

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

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