Glossary
- Interference: superposition of light waves whose resulting intensity depends on the phase shifts between them
- Anti reflection coating: layer(s) deposited on a substrate in order to minimize the reflection of light on the said substrate
- Angle of incidence: angle of a light ray incident on a surface with the normal to the surface
- Wavelength ( of a light wave ): distance between two consecutive identical states of the electric ( or magnetic ) field
- Refraction index: for a transparent medium, ratio between the light speed in the air and the light speed in the medium ; for a reflective surface in the air or vacuum, the refraction index is « - 1 »
- Order ( interference ): number of wavelengths corresponding to the difference between the optical paths traveled by two interfering light rays
- Reflection coefficient: ratio between reflected light power ( or intensity or amplitude ) and incident light power ( or intensity or amplitude )
- TM polarization: wave whose magnetic field is perpendicular to a considered plane ; in the case of a wave incident on a surface, the considered plane is the incidence plane ( containing the wave direction and the normal to the surface )
- TE polarization: polarization of a wave whose electric field is perpendicular to a considered plane ; in the case of a wave incident on a surface, the considered plane is the incidence plane ( containing the wave direction and the normal to the surface )