Abstract

In the original flip-flop method for the design of optical thin-film systems, a starting design consists of many thin layers of equal thickness. A solution is sought that is based on two nonabsorbing, nondispersive materials. The design process is controlled with the aid of a merit function. This function is defined in terms of the desired transmittances at different wavelengths. The optimum solution is found through the repeated selection, taking each layer in turn, of the material that gives rise to the greatest improvement of the merit function. In this talk a more advanced version of the program is described, which makes possible a more elaborate specification of the desired performance is possible. The program has been modified to allow for the dispersion of the coating materials. The selection is made from three, not two, materials, one of which may be a metal. These changes greatly increase the types of problems that may be solved by this technique. The method is demonstrated on a number of different problems.

© 1990 Optical Society of America