Dielectric-interface boundary conditions

Without free surface charge or current, the tangential components of $E$ and $H$ and the normal components of $D$ and $B$ are continuous across an interface.

Equality of the boundary fields for every tangential position and time forces equal frequency and equal tangential wavevector for incident, reflected, and transmitted plane waves.

For refractive indices $n_{-}$ and $n_{+}$,

Total internal reflection occurs when a wave travels from higher to lower refractive index above the critical incidence angle, leaving no propagating transmitted plane wave normal to the interface.

For refractive indices $n_{-}>n_{+}$, the critical angle satisfies $\sin {\theta }_c=n_{+}/n_{-}$. Above it, the transmitted normal wavenumber is imaginary and the transmitted field is an evanescent wave.

When the permeabilities agree, the signed reflected-to-incident electric-field ratio for polarization normal to the plane of incidence isFor incidence from lower to higher refractive index it never vanishes.

For equal permeabilities on the two sides of an interface, tangential-field continuity and Snell law for electromagnetic waves givefor consistently signed electric amplitudes normal to the plane of incidence.