Electromagnetism – Are Fresnel Equations Valid in Conductors?

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The derivation of Fresnel equations assume no surface charge density or current density is present at the interface, hence making the normal and tangential components of D and H continuous, respectively. I understand this is the case for dielectrics, but what about conductors?
After deriving Fresnel coefficients some books (ex: Introduction to Optics by Pedrotti) present the complex permittivity of conductors and then plug this expression in Fresnel coefficients. I would like to understand why this is correct due to the fact that Fresnel coefficients where derived only for the case where sigma = 0 and j = 0 at the interface, in the first place.

Best Answer

I’m not sure which derivation you’re looking at, but (a) the tangential component of $D$ is virtually always continuous (absent a static charge density which simply contributes a static field), and (b) including a current density poses no problem. Take a look at Ampere’s Law (time-harmonic approximation): $$ \nabla\times H = J + i \omega D $$ It’s clear that the free current and displacement current terms both contribute to the curl of H, they just have a relative phase shift: $$ \nabla\times H = (\sigma + i \omega \epsilon)E $$ So we can bundle $\sigma$ (the conductivity, not the surface charge density) into $\epsilon$, giving it a complex value, but nothing else about Ampere’s Law changes. Therefore, the same derivation for the Fresnel coefficients applies in the case of a complex $\epsilon$.

Just in case you don’t believe your book, trust that the validity of the Fresnel coefficients for complex-valued $\epsilon$ has been empirically verified countless times over decades. I have used it myself to calculate the transmission spectra of thin metal films, which I used to successfully model my data.

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