Abstract

The capability of depositing a thin film having a continuously varying refractive-index profile offers several advantages for optical applications. Abrupt interfaces between highly dissimilar materials, as found in discrete-layer structures, can be avoided; thus problems associated with interfacial imperfections and stresses, as often found in conventional coatings,¹ can be minimized. Furthermore, arbitrary refractive-index profiles can be realized leading to optimized broadband antireflection coatings² and complex high-performance filters.³

© 1986 Optical Society of America