Reflection and Refraction of Electromagnetic Waves by a Moving Dielectric Medium

Abstract

The problem of reflection and refraction of a plane electromagnetic wave by a semi-infinite dielectric medium moving uniformly parallel to its surface is analyzed. The scope of this paper is wider than earlier ones in that the orientation of the plane of incidence is arbitrary. Certain interesting features are revealed. First, Snell's law is modified. Secondly, the resultant reflected and transmitted E and H vectors are not parallel (or antiparallel) to the incident E and H. Furthermore, when the incident wave is polarized with its electric field parallel to the plane of incidence, there is no angle of incidence (Brewster's angle) for which the reflected wave vanishes. An exception to these results occurs when the plane of incidence is parallel to the velocity. In this case, there is a strong resemblance to the nonmoving case.