Abstract
When the hypotenuse surfaces of two 45°–45°–90° prisms are separated by a narrow air gap, part of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the prisms will be transmitted through both prisms and part will be internally reflected in the first prism. Theory indicates that for prisms of index of refraction, , the transmission coefficient for the electric vector parallel to the plane of incidence (T||) varies as a function of the ratio of gap distance to wavelength, d/λ, the same as for the case of the electric vector perpendicular to the plane of incidence (T⊥). For , T|| falls off more slowly with d/λ than T⊥. For , T|| falls off more rapidly with d/λ than T⊥. Transmission and reflection coefficients were measured experimentally as a function of d/λ for 3-cm waves with prisms made of paraffin, sulfur, and sodium chloride.
© 1960 Optical Society of America
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