Phase Shift of Light upon Reflection

Question

In waves other than electromagnetic waves (e.g. waves on a string assuming small transverse displacement), when propagating across the boundary between two media, a fraction of a wave will be reflected with a phase shift of $\pi$ if the impedance of the second medium is larger than that of the first, or generally if the amplitude reflection coefficient $r$ is negative. Otherwise, the reflected wave will have no phase shift, implying positive $r$.

For electromagnetic waves, the amplitude reflection and transmission coefficients are governed by the Fresnel equations, which take into account the component polarization of light incident to the interface between to media with different indices of refraction. Looking at the behavior of the amplitude coefficients for light incident on glass from air with respect to the angle of incidence:

S. Berg-Johansen, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

we see that despite the transition from a medium of lower to one of higher impedance (considering that impedance for electromagnetic waves is proportional to index of refraction), the amplitude reflection coefficients are not always negative, suggesting that the light does not acquire a phase shift of $\pi$ upon reflection. Does this mean that light incident to an optically denser medium does not always reflect with a phase shift of $\pi$?

Answer 1

You have to adopt a sign convention when defining the Fresnel coefficients. Usually you say that a positive reflection coefficient means the wave component tangential to the interface keeps the same direction. For s-polarised light that is the E-field, but for p-polarised light it is the H-field. Note that you cannot just say "the direction of the E-field reverses" or "the direction of the E-field stays the same" for p-polarised light, because neither statement could be true except at normal incidence.

Hence a positive r for p-polarised light means no phase change for the H-field, but since the reflected wave travels away from the interface, the E-field must flip (in the sense that it points towards the opposite side of the normal to the surface compared to the incident E-field). Beyond the Brewster angle, the reflection coefficient for p-polarised light becomes negative; the H-field reverses direction and the E-field points towards the same side of the normal as the incident E-field. The diagram below shows the distinction.

Answer 2

In addition to @ProfRob’s answer, I’ll just point out that refractive index is in general a complex number. And, the Fresnel Equations apply to complex refractive index too.

So the answer is: You’re right, the reflection phase is not always $\pi$. In principle, it can be anything!