Simple Refraction Law for Uniaxial Anisotropic Absorbing Media

Abstract

In anisotropic media, there exist ordinary and extraordinary rays. Until now, there has been no simple refraction law like Snell's law for the extraordinary ray. In this study, with the Fresnel model, we made a simple refraction law applicable to both ordinary and extraordinary rays, though it is limited for uniaxial media. The obtained formula could explain the differences between the two rays and would be very useful in extending the traditional isotropic electromagnetic theories to the uniaxial anisotropic electromagnetic theories.