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JEE Main 20264 AprilMorning Shift
Exam
JEE Main
Year
2026
Date
4 April
Shift
Morning Shift
Subject
Physics
Chapter
Wave Optics

JEE Main 2026 · 4 April · Morning Shift · Physics · Wave Optics

An unpolarized light is incident on the plane interface of...

An unpolarized light is incident on the plane interface of air-dielectric medium shown in figure. If the incident angle is equal to Brewster angle, identify the expression representing reflected wave.
An unpolarized light is incident on the plane interface of air-dielectric medium shown in figure. If the incident angle

Options

  1. A(Exi^+Eyj^)sin⁡(kx−kz−ωt)(E_x\hat{i} + E_y\hat{j})\sin(kx - kz - \omega t)
  2. B(Exi^+Ezk^)sin⁡(kx+ky−ωt)(E_x\hat{i} + E_z\hat{k})\sin(kx + ky - \omega t)
  3. C(Exj^+Eyk^)sin⁡(ky+kz−ωt)(E_x\hat{j} + E_y\hat{k})\sin(ky + kz - \omega t)
  4. D(Exi^+Eyj^+Ezk^)sin⁡(kx+ky−kz−ωt)(E_x\hat{i} + E_y\hat{j} + E_z\hat{k})\sin(kx + ky - kz - \omega t)

Correct answer

A. (Exi^+Eyj^)sin⁡(kx−kz−ωt)(E_x\hat{i} + E_y\hat{j})\sin(kx - kz - \omega t)

Step-by-step solution

From the given figure, the incident light rays lie in the xzxz-plane. Therefore, the plane of incidence is the xzxz-plane.

The incident wave travels from the air (z<0z < 0) towards the medium (z>0z > 0), so it propagates in the +x+x and +z+z directions. The reflected wave will travel back into the air, meaning it propagates in the +x+x and −z-z directions.

The wave vector for the reflected wave can be written as k⃗r=kxi^−kzk^\vec{k}_r = k_x \hat{i} - k_z \hat{k}.
The phase of the reflected wave is given by k⃗r⋅r⃗−ωt=kxx−kzz−ωt\vec{k}_r \cdot \vec{r} - \omega t = k_x x - k_z z - \omega t. This phase matches the expression in option (1).

According to Brewster's law, when unpolarized light is incident at the Brewster angle, the reflected light is completely polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence. Since the plane of incidence is the xzxz-plane, the reflected electric field must be entirely along the yy-axis (j^\hat{j} direction).

Let us verify this with option (1), which gives the electric field as E⃗=Exi^+Eyj^\vec{E} = E_x \hat{i} + E_y \hat{j}.
For an electromagnetic wave, the electric field must be perpendicular to the direction of propagation, so k⃗r⋅E⃗=0\vec{k}_r \cdot \vec{E} = 0.
(kxi^−kzk^)⋅(Exi^+Eyj^)=0(k_x \hat{i} - k_z \hat{k}) \cdot (E_x \hat{i} + E_y \hat{j}) = 0
kxEx=0k_x E_x = 0

Since kx≠0k_x \neq 0, we must have Ex=0E_x = 0. This leaves E⃗=Eyj^\vec{E} = E_y \hat{j}, which means the wave is purely polarized along the yy-axis. This perfectly satisfies the condition for reflection at the Brewster angle.

Thus, the correct expression representing the reflected wave is (Exi^+Eyj^)sin⁡(kx−kz−ωt)(E_x\hat{i} + E_y\hat{j})\sin(kx - kz - \omega t).

Answer: (Exi^+Eyj^)sin⁡(kx−kz−ωt)(E_x\hat{i} + E_y\hat{j})\sin(kx - kz - \omega t)
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