REFLECTION FROM NONCENTROSYMMETRIC UNIAXIAL CRYSTALS - A MULTIPOLE APPROACH

A multipole theory is used to describe reflection and refraction at th e interface of an isotropic medium and a transparent noncentrosymmetri c crystal. Both optically active and optically inactive crystals are c onsidered. Fresnel reflection amplitudes, which satisfy the requiremen ts of reciprocity, are obtained for the uniaxial symmetry classes when the optic axis is normal to the boundary and parallel to it. These am plitudes are related to the angle of incidence and also to macroscopic property tensors of the crystal within the electric quadrupole-magnet ic dipole approximation. Experiments based on the differential reflect ion of orthogonal polarizations of the incident light beam are describ ed for measuring certain crystal properties. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America