Abstract

It is shown that for a semireflecting film whose reflection and transmission factors are re^iρ and te^iτ, the conservation of energy requires that the angle ρ−τ must lie between cos⁻¹(A/2rt) and cos⁻¹(−A/2rt) where A=1−r²−t². The corresponding condition for an asymmetrical film is derived. The effect of this phase condition on multiple beam reflection fringes and filters is studied theoretically. It is possible to set an upper limit to the error incurred in the calculation of reflected intensities on the usual assumption that ρ−τ=π/2. Expressions are found for the maximum and minimum intensities with ρ−τ at its limit. It is extablished that a necessary condition for the reflected intensity distribution to become transmission-like is that r+t⩽1.

© 1957 Optical Society of America

Measurement of Low Absorption in Semireflecting Films

Allan R. Cownie
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 50(3) 289-294 (1960)

Induced Transmission in Absorbing Films Applied to Band Pass Filter Design

Peter H. Berning and A. F. Turner
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 47(3) 230-239 (1957)

Formation of Transmissionlike Reflection Fringes

Allan R. Cownie
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 53(4) 425-428 (1963)

Optical Properties of Thin Absorbing Films*

F. Abelès
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 47(6) 473-482 (1957)

Semireflecting Silver Films for Infrared Interferometry*

Uri Oppenheim
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 46(8) 628-633 (1956)