Total internal reflection of evanescent plane waves

Abstract

Describing the phenomenon of total internal reflection in terms of a reflection coefficient of unit magnitude, we found that, not only can propagating plane waves be total internally reflected at the planar interface of two dissimilar, homogeneous, isotropic dielectric-magnetic mediums, but evanescent plane waves can also be. The refracting medium must be the optically denser of the two mediums for total internal reflection of an evanescent plane wave to occur.