Influence of superconductor anisotropy on electromagnetic wave reflection

The electromagnetic wave (EMW) reflection from the surface of an anisotropic superconductor (SC) is investigated. The reflected wave parameters are expressed in terms of the components of the surface impedance tensor. It is shown that the SC anisotropy gives rise to two effects. Firstly the linear polarization wave in the general case is of an elliptical polarization after reflection. Secondly, the polarization ellipse of the reflected wave is turned with respect to the EMW plane of incidence. The values of these effects are determined by the ratio of London penetration depth λ to EMW length λw. It is found that in a microwave region (λ/λw << 1) there is almost no effect of anisotropy. The revealed effects become essential only in an optical range of frequencies. It is shown that the reflected wave polarization is unaffected when the polarization plane of the incident EMW is parallel to the anisotropy axis