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The source-free Maxwell equations in a linear medium areHere the constitutive relations are $\mathbf{D}=\epsilon \mathbf{E}$ and $\mathbf{B}=\mu \mathbf{H}$.

Substitution of the sinusoidal plane waves into the two divergence equations gives the transversality of an electromagnetic plane wave,Faraday's law and the Ampère-Maxwell equation give, respectively,Taking $\mathbf{k}\times$ the first equation and using transversality yieldsThus a nonzero plane electromagnetic wave in a linear medium must satisfyIn particular, ${\mathbf{E}}_0$, ${\mathbf{B}}_0$, and $\mathbf{k}$ are mutually orthogonal, with $|{\mathbf{B}}_0|=\sqrt{\mu \epsilon }|{\mathbf{E}}_0|$.

Take the interface to be $x=0$ and the plane of incidence to be the $xy$-plane. The incident, reflected, and transmitted wavevectors may be writtenThe phase matching at a planar wave interface requires one common angular frequency and one common tangential wavevector:Since $k_{\pm }=\omega \sqrt{{\epsilon }_{\pm }\mu }=n_{\pm }\omega /c$, this gives the Snell law for electromagnetic waves,

For the final polarization, take the signed electric amplitudes along $\hat{\mathbf{z}}$. The dielectric-interface boundary conditions require continuity of tangential $\mathbf{E}$ and $\mathbf{H}$. Sincetheir $z$- and $y$-components giveandEliminating $E_I$ yieldsUsing ${\theta }_R={\theta }_I$ and Snell's law,Therefore the reflected-to-transmitted transverse-electric amplitude ratio iswith the polarization directions chosen so that the displayed signed factor is nonnegative; otherwise its absolute value gives the magnitude ratio.

For each $X\in \{I,R,T\}$, substitution of a complex plane electromagnetic wave in a linear medium into the source-free Maxwell equations in a linear medium requireswhere ${\epsilon }_I={\epsilon }_R={\epsilon }_{-}$ and ${\epsilon }_T={\epsilon }_{+}$. The accompanying magnetic field isThe incident and transmitted waves have $k_{Ix}>0$ and $k_{Tx}>0$, while the reflected wave has $k_{Rx}<0$. Matching the fields at the stationary interface additionally imposes the phase matching at a planar wave interface conditions ${\omega }_I={\omega }_R={\omega }_T$ and equality of all tangential wavevector components.

The source-free Maxwell equations in a linear medium arewith $D=ϵE$ and $B=\mu H$.

Take complex plane wavesThe divergence equations giveand Faraday's law givesAmpère's law givesSubstituting the expression for $B_0$ and using
$k\times (k\times E_0)=-|k{|}^2{E}_0$ yieldsHence the plane electromagnetic wave in a linear medium hasand equivalently