Created By : Abhinandan Kumar

Reviewed By : Phani Ponnapalli

Last Updated : May 17, 2023


The reflectivity and kind of light reflected by a thin optical film may be calculated using this thin-film optical coating calculator. By applying Fresnel equations, Snell's law, and trigonometry, we can calculate the optical path difference and reflectivity. The type of interference can then be identified. We can also determine the required anti-reflection coating thickness needed for a specific wavelength of light. More about thin-film interference, optical path difference, as well as how to calculate reflectivity will be covered in this article.

Interference between thin films and differences in optical paths

When light strikes the interface between two different mediums, some of it is reflected back into the first medium, while the rest is transmitted to the second. Some light may be absorbed depending on the substance. If there is a discrepancy in the refractive indices, the transmitted light refracts.

When a thin film is placed between these two media, something unusual happens: the top and bottom interfaces reflect light into the first medium, causing light waves to interfere.

Reflected Light Interference

Fig: Reflected light interference occurs when two media are separated by a tiny layer of a different material.

To determine the type of interference, we must first determine the optical path difference, which specifies the phase shift that two separate light waves experience due to their varied optical path length.

OPD = 2n2dcos(θ2)

  • Where OPD = Optical path difference n_2
  • n2 = Refractive index of the thin-film;
  • d = Thickness of the thin-film; and
  • θ2 = Refraction angle in the thin-film.

Furthermore, if the first medium's refractive index is lower than the second medium's, the reflected light will undergo a 180° or π in radian phase change.

The reflected light waves can cause interference in a variety of ways:

Constructive interference: Constructive interference occurs when the crests and troughs of reflected light waves overlap and raise the amplitude of the resulting wave.

Destructive interference: When the crests of the reflected light wave collide with the troughs, the resultant wave amplitude is destroyed.

Intermediate: An overlapping state that produces a wave with an amplitude that is halfway between the maximum and minimum values.

How do I use the thin-film optical coating calculator?

There's a lot going on beneath the hood of this thin-film optical coating calculator, but it's rather simple to use:

Input the incidence angle and optical film thickness, as well as the three mediums' refractive indices. Optical path difference, reflectivity, and interference type will all be calculated using this calculator.

This thin-film optical coating calculator will calculate the anti-reflective coating's minimum thickness based on the wavelength and refractive index of the film.

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FAQs on Thin-Film Optical Coating Calculator

1. How can you find out the thickness of an anti-reflective coating?

In this method, an interference filter for cancelling reflected waves from the front and rear surfaces may be constructed. Each layer can benefit from this notion. As a result, the layer thickness = lambd0/4 n, where n denotes the refractive index and lambda0 denotes the free-space wavelength.

2. How can you find out how big a thin film's surface area is?

Surface area is length multiplied by film width for thin films with a rectangular shape. Surface area times thickness equals volume. As a result, the thickness will be the volume/surface area ratio. For the measuring of film thickness, optical approaches might be utilised.

3. What is optical reflectance, and how does it affect you?

The ratio of reflected radiant flux (optical power) to incident flux at a reflecting item – such as an optical component or system – is referred to as reflectance. The optical frequency or wavelength, as well as the direction of the incident light, play a role.

4. What is a thin film's thickness?

A thin film is a thin sheet of material with a thickness ranging from fractions of a nanometer to several micrometres.

5. What is the thin film thickness order of wavelength?

Thin-film interference occurs when light waves reflected from the top surface of a film interfere with waves reflected from the bottom surface. The thickness of the film must be on the order of the wavelength of light to get a beautiful colourful pattern.