Reflection and refraction at the surface of an isotropic chiral medium: eigenvalue–eigenvector solution using a 4 × 4 matrix method

Abstract

Fresnel reflection amplitude coefficients (fractional amplitudes) at the surface of an isotropic, intrinsically nonmagnetic chiral medium are derived on the basis of the Drude–Condon model of optical activity. The eigenvalue–eigenvector solution is obtained with use of Berreman’s 4 × 4 matrix method. Self-consistent results are obtained when the calculations are based on a new 4 × 4 matrix for reflection from an isotropic chiral medium.