Propagation in an Anisotropic Medium Using Huygens's Principle

time (t)

0

extrordinary index (

n

e

)

1.5

ordinary index (

n

o

)

1.5

angle of incidence SubscriptBox[\(θ\), \(\( \)\(i\)\)]

π

4

wavelength (λ)

5

show vectors

This Demonstration shows the propagation of wavefronts in an anisotropic medium, making use of Huygens's principle that every point on a wavefront is itself a source of spherical waves. Move the sliders to change the extraordinary and ordinary index of refraction, the angle of incidence and the wavelength. The incident and transmitted wave vector

k

is shown in blue. The transmitted Poynting vector

S

is shown in green.