Thin Films

Thin Film Interference

0 Partial reflection and refraction happens

when light encounters a new medium

0 A change of phase occurs when light reflects
from an optically more dense material (I.e. a
higher index of refraction, n)
0 No phase change occurs when light reflects
from an optically less dense material (i.e. a
lower index of refraction, n)

0 Slow to fast reflection (no phase change)

0 Fast to slow reflection (phase change by pi)

Interference Factors
0 Interference happens when the two different

light beams interact and there is a path

difference between the light beams
0 To change the path length, the refracted
beam must travel a longer path
0 The path difference depends on:
0 The thickness of the thin film
0 The index of refraction of the film and surround

materials (it can change the phase)

Interference when light is

reflected