Abstract

It is now possible to design optical thin-film systems with almost any desired spectral transmission curve. Some of the synthesis methods used for that purpose yield solutions in the form of inhomogeneous layers. These can then be approximated by multilayer systems consisting of very many, very thin films of two materials only. Other methods provide such quasi-inhomogeneous solutions directly. Because they were difficult to implement in practice, such layer systems were, until now, of academic interest only. This paper describes equipment which has been especially designed for the realization of such multilayers. It is based on the constant rate evaporation of two materials. The construction parameters of the quasi-inhomogeneous layer system are automatically translated into a set of instructions for the control of the deposition by a microcomputer. Experimental results are presented to illustrate the process.

© 1986 Optical Society of America