Spatial structure of the refracted field of a Gaussian light beam at total internal reflection

Abstract

The two-dimensional spatial structure of a stationary monochromatic refracted field is studied theoretically for the case of its exciting in a transparent homogeneous medium by incidence of a Gaussian light beam under total internal reflection. For that, the exact solution of refracted field in the form of a Fourier integral is used. It is shown that this spatial structure exhibits properties characteristic of the fields in strongly inhomogeneous and absorbing media: field attenuation as it propagates deep into the medium, noticeable diffraction beam divergence near the boundary itself, non-rectilinear nature of propagation in the medium, and non-exponential attenuation along its depth.