Brewster angle

The angle of incidence at which light reflected from a dielectric interface has no component polarized parallel to the plane of incidence. The reflected light is therefore linearly polarized perpendicular to that plane.

Fresnel equations: Equations describing the reflection and transmission of electromagnetic waves at an interface. They predict the vanishing p-polarized reflection that defines the Brewster angle.
Polarizing filter: An optical element that transmits one polarization state more strongly than others. Filters can isolate or suppress the polarized reflection produced near the Brewster angle.
Plane of incidence: The plane containing an incident ray and the normal to the interface at its point of incidence. The Brewster condition distinguishes electric fields parallel and perpendicular to this plane.
David Brewster: A Scottish physicist who studied optics and polarization and invented the kaleidoscope. The angle bears his name following his investigations of polarized reflection.
p-polarization: Linear polarization with its electric field parallel to the plane of incidence. This is the polarization whose reflected amplitude becomes zero at the Brewster angle.
Glare: Discomfort or reduced visibility caused by excessive or scattered light entering the eye. Reflections from roads and water often become strongly polarized near Brewster incidence, enabling glare reduction.
Linear polarization: A state of light in which the electric field oscillates along a fixed direction perpendicular to propagation. The reflected beam at the Brewster angle is linearly polarized.
Polarization of light: The orientation-dependent oscillation of the electric field in a light wave. Brewster's study of reflection helped establish polarization as a property of light.
s-polarization: Linear polarization with its electric field perpendicular to the plane of incidence. Unlike p-polarized light, its reflected component remains at the Brewster angle.
Brewster window: A dielectric optical window set at Brewster incidence to minimize reflection of p-polarized light. It applies the angle to reduce cavity losses for p-polarized laser light.

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