Linear and circular form birefringence of coatings fabricated by serial bideposition

摘要

Abstract: The properties of anisotropic coatings fabricated in vacuum by serial bideposition are described. With appropriate choice of deposition parameters the technique can be used to engineer large linear form birefringence in films that have nanostructural columns aligned perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. Conversely, the biaxial films can be engineered so that all principal axes are inclined to the substrate, or the target of engineering can be large circular form birefringence. Several general and specific applications are discussed, including the fabrication of waveplates, linear polarizers, and a double-layer anisotropic antireflection coating used to select the polarization direction of an open cavity HeNe laser.!20