Just something I've been wondering for about 10 years
The principles behind an A/R coat are primarily reflection and destructive interference. It has been demonstrated that the phase change associated with the proper thickness and index coating can effectively 'cancel' the reflections from an ophthalmic lens by having a creating a sinusoidal wave exactly counterbalanced to the reflected light wave (obviously some portions of the colour spectrum are less affected due to differing wavelength).
Since the reflection is destructively interfered or cancelled, my question is this:
WHEN THE REFLECTION IS ELIMINATED/REDUCED, DOES THAT NECESSARILY HAVE ANY BEARING (increase) ON THE LIGHT TRANSMITTED, OR DOES THE LIGHT TRANSMITTED REMAIN CONSTANT?
It would seem instinctive that by reducing the reflection from the refractive medium one would assume that the light transmitted is thus increased. But under further examination, the amount of light transmitted doesn't seem to increase, rather the light transmitted instead seems to remain constant, but the light reflected is 'canceled'...which is not the same as increasing the % of Transmitted light.
Am I incorrect in this supposition?
AA
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