Reflection and transmission phenomena of waves propagating between an isotropic medium and an arbitrarily oriented anisotropic medium

We theoretically analyze waves propagating between an isotropic medium and an anisotropic medium. Closely examining the boundary condition reveals that the phenomenon of nonsymmetrical reflection occurs when the wave propagates from an anisotropic to an isotropic medium. Calculating the reflection of thin films requires correcting the phase change in each reflected trip in the Airy formula. Analytical results of measurement of the elliptical surface of a wave-vector distribution in an anisotropic medium indicate that reflection and transmission still occur when the reflected and the refracted angles are larger than 90 degrees. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 000.2690, 160.4760, 260.1180, 350.7420.