Re: Imaginary reality

["Bernard G. Cleyet & Nancy Ann Seese" <georgeann@REDSHIFT.COM>]

It is with some trepidation that I reply, as I haven't had any thing to
do with theoretical Phys. since 1974.  However, I'll summarize (Many
of you will probably poke holes in this -- see previous).  A "wave
equation may be obtained (note passive voice) by eliminating, B (vector)
from Max's eq's.  :   Del squared E = (mu
mu0 ep ep0)
E
(double dot) +
(mu mu0 sigma) E(single
dot)   A plane wave soln. is A (exp(i
K (complex vector) dot
product R - i omega t)   wave vector K is
k1 + iK2    
etc. etc.   Further:  K is the complex
propagation vector.  The real part contains the velocity function,
n, which is perpendicular to the planes of constant
phase.  While the imaginary part contains the absorption function,
k, which is perpendicular to the planes of constant
amplitude.  Usually these vectors are parallel (homogenous waves). 
An inhomogenous wave may be produced by passing a plane polarized wave
through an absorbing prism (not perpendicularly), thereby producing a wave
with a component of K2 transverse.  Finally The
measurement of n and k   (K1 = n omega/C
and K2 = k omega/C)  (one method, another makes
use of transmission from very thin films, which suffers from the probability
that they don't represent the indices of bulk matter)  make use of
reflection coefficients applied to plane polarized light.  When such
light is reflected by a metal (all specular absorbing materials?) it becomes
elliptically polarized etc. etc.  .. précis: By measuring the
ellipse (including the rotation of one of its axises WRT the original polarization
angle), one may obtain the complex index of the metal.

"Paul O. Johnson" wrote:

How?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bernard G. Cleyet & Nancy Ann Seese" <georgeann@REDSHIFT.COM>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Friday, April 21, 2000 1:31 PM
Subject: Re: Imaginary reality

> People!
>
> Remember, also, that indices of refraction are complex!
>
> bc