Timing the total reflection of light

• DOI: 10.1016/j.physleta.2005.01.036
• Publication Date: 2005-01-25T13:14:04Z
• Authors: Dominique Chauvat; Christophe Bonnet; Kevin Dunseath; Olivier Emile; Albert Le Floch
• Keywords: Reflection

We have identified for the first time the absolute delay at total reflection, envisioned by Newton. We show that there are in fact two divergent Wigner delays, depending on the polarisation of the incident light. These measurements give a new insight on the passage from total reflection to refraction.