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Reflection of light is either specular (mirror-like) or diffuse (retaining the energy, but losing the image) depending on the nature of the interface.In specular reflection the phase of the reflected waves depends on the choice of the origin of coordinates, but the relative phase between s and p (TE and TM) polarizations is fixed by the properties of the media and of the interface between them.
Specular reflection, or regular reflection, is the mirror-like reflection of waves, such as light, from a surface. [ 1 ] The law of reflection states that a reflected ray of light emerges from the reflecting surface at the same angle to the surface normal as the incident ray, but on the opposing side of the surface normal in the plane formed by ...
Diffuse reflection is typically characterized by omni-directional reflection angles. Most of the objects visible to the naked eye are identified via diffuse reflection. Another term commonly used for this type of reflection is "light scattering". Light scattering from the surfaces of objects is our primary mechanism of physical observation. [3] [4]
Snell's window (also called Snell's circle [1] or optical man-hole [2]) is a phenomenon by which an underwater viewer sees everything above the surface through a cone of light of width of about 96 degrees. [3] This phenomenon is caused by refraction of light entering water, and is governed by Snell's Law. [4]
Diffuse reflection is the reflection of light or other waves or particles from a surface such that a ray incident on the surface is scattered at many angles rather than at just one angle as in the case of specular reflection.
A typical household mirror with a reflective coating on the back side of a piece of glass is a little more complicated. When light enters the glass it is bent toward the normal unless it is already along the normal, in which case it is not bent. The light reflects from the reflective backing with an equal and opposite angle.
Earthshine – Light reflected from the Earth; Zodiacal light – Faint solar glow caused by interplanetary dust at sunset and sunrise; Gegenschein – Optical effect of interplanetary dust reflections; Reflection nebula – Clouds of interstellar dust which reflect the light of nearby stars
Gas lasers using an external cavity (reflection by one or both mirrors outside the gain medium) generally seal the tube using windows tilted at Brewster's angle. This prevents light in the intended polarization from being lost through reflection (and reducing the round-trip gain of the laser) which is critical in lasers having a low round-trip ...