Why history matters

• Verfasst von: Starke, Ronald [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Schober, Giulio Albert Heinrich [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Why history matters
• Titelzusatz: ab initio rederivation of Fresnel equations confirms microscopic theory of refractive index
• Verf.angabe: R. Starke, G.A.H. Schober
• E-Jahr: 2018
• Jahr: 9 November 2017
• Jahr des Originals: 2017
• Umfang: 12 S.
• Fussnoten: Gesehen am 08.04.2020
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Optik
• Ort Quelle: München : Elsevier, 2001
• Jahr Quelle: 2018
• Band/Heft Quelle: 157(2018), Seite 275-286
• ISSN Quelle: 1618-1336
• DOI: doi:10.1016/j.ijleo.2017.11.026
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: Electronic structure
• Sach-SW: Fresnel equations
• Sach-SW: materials physics
• K10plus-PPN: 1694283267

Abstract

We provide a systematic theoretical, experimental and historical critique of the standard derivation of Fresnel's equations, which shows in particular that these well-established equations actually contradict the traditional, macroscopic approach to electrodynamics in media. Subsequently, we give a rederivation of Fresnel's equations which is exclusively based on the microscopic Maxwell equations and hence in accordance with modern first-principles materials physics. In particular, as a main outcome of this analysis being of a more general interest, we propose the most general boundary conditions on electric and magnetic fields which are valid on the microscopic level.