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Fresnel Reflection, Lenserf Reflection and Evanescent Gain
Recent investigations into Fresnel reflection and total internal reflection have led to conflicting results when the evanescent medium is “gainy” rather than lossless or lossy. This controversy can be resolved by introducing the much less well known concept of Lenserf reflection—an idea put forward by the illustrious Dr. Tung Inn Cheek.
Augustin Fresnel (right) observes his little known contemporary, Monsieur Nitsugua Lenserf.
The total internal reflection (TIR) of light at certain angles of incidence on the interface between two lossless dielectric media is a well-known aspect of Fresnel reflection. It is also well understood that adding a small amount of loss or absorption in the evanescent region inside the reflecting medium will reduce the magnitude of this TIR reflection coefficient—an effect that provides the basis for so-called evanescent wave spectroscopy.
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