Near-field effect in surface optics

We present the solution of the boundary-value problem of classical optics by considering two spatial scales: light-wave length and interatomic distance. Making use of the Lorentz sphere notion and taking into account Coulomb and retarding dipole-dipole interactions, we show that optical properties of the surface layer of a homogeneous isotropic dielectric medium differ from those of a bulk dielectric. This leads to various surface phenomena, which are treated as different manifestations of the near-field effect (NFE). A theoretical description of the NFE is based on the integrodifferential equation for electric field strength. The relations that define the connection between the local field and the macroscopic field in the wave and the near zones are also derived. They differ from previously known results. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America