Properties of bi-isotropic Fresnel reflection coefficients

The Fresnel reflection coefficients R sub 1, R sub 2 for the planar interface between isotropic and generally biisotropic half spaces are studied. The functions (R sub 1 + R sub 2)/(1 + R sub 1(R sub 2)) and (R sub 1 - R sub 2)/(1 - R sub 1(R sub 2)) are seen to be simple functions of the optical material parameters of the media, as has been the case in the corresponding isotropic problem. Also pathological conditions, derived earlier elsewhere for reflection coefficients involving isotropic media, are generalized for the biisotropic (nonreciprocal chiral) case. Furthermore, the special cases of reflection from Pasteur or Tellegen media result from the analysis.