ON BREWSTERS ANGLE OF METALS

We derive an elementary relation for the determination of the pseudo-B rewster angle of metals as a function of frequency. The pseudo-Brewste r angle is defined as the angle where the reflection is minimal, i.e., the absorption is maximal. A comparison of the approximated values wi th the exact ones shows that the former are very accurate for photon e nergies below the Drude plasma frequency. Additionally we give two ver y simple expressions for a fast and surprisingly good estimate at low and high photon energies. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.