Matrix analysis of an anisotropic optical thin film

Based on Maxwell's equations, standard boundary conditions are imposed on resultant electric- and magnetic-field vectors at interfaces, and the propagating characteristics of extraordinary waves, such as the forward- and backward-propagating directions of wave vectors, rays and their corresponding refractive indices are determined in a uniaxially birefringent thin film. Furthermore, 2 x 2 characteristic matrices of a birefringent thin film are derived including multiple reflections for the extraordinary wave.