The use of solid frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) layers to control the polarization effects in optical coatings usually results in large substrate sizes and complicated designs. To overcome this problem, it is proposed to incorporate an air FTIR layer into the multilayer thin film coatings. The low refractive index of air not only helps to reduce the substrate sizes, but also simplifies coating designs or improves the performance. The principle and layer structures of the proposed multilayers are described. Examples of polarizing- and non-polarizing beam-splitters for the infrared spectral region are given. Some practical manufacturing issues are also discussed.

© 2010 OSA

1. H. A. Macleod, Thin Film Optical Filters, 3rd edition, (Institute of Physics, Bristol, 2001).
2. L. Li and J. A. Dobrowolski, “High-performance thin-film polarizing beam splitter operating at angles greater than the critical angle,” Appl. Opt. 39(16), 2754–2771 (2000). [CrossRef]
3. L. Li, “The design of optical thin film coatings with total and frustrated total internal reflection,” Opt. Photonics News 14(9), 24–30 (2003). [CrossRef]
4. M. Zukic and K. H. Guenther, “Design of nonpolarizing achromatic beamsplitters with dielectric multilayers,” Opt. Eng. 28, 165–171 (1989).
5. H. A. Macleod and Z. Milanovic, “Immersed beamsplitter-an old problem,” Optical Interference Coatings (OIC), 28–30 (1992).
6. L. Li, P. Ma and P. Verly, “Non-polarizing thin film interference filters with FTIR,” Optical Interference Coatings (OIC), ThD3 (2004).
7. J. A. Dobrowolski, “Optical properties of films and coatings,” Handbook of Optics, 2nd edition, M. Bass, ed., Optical Society of America, (McGraw-Hill, New York, 42.1–42.130, 1995).
8. L. Li, D. Poitras and X. Tong, “Broadband tunable Fabry-Perot filters,” Optical Interference Coatings (OIC), ThB3 (2004).
9. E. E. Hall, “The penetration of totally reflected light into rarer medium,” Phys. Rev. 15, 73–106 (1902).
10. L. Li and J. A. Dobrowolski, “Visible broadband, wide-angle, thin-film multilayer polarizing beam splitter,” Appl. Opt. 35(13), 2221–2225 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. E. D. Palik, Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I Academic Press Inc., Orlando, (1985)
12. J. A. Dobrowolski, “Coatings and Filters,” in Handbook of Optics W.G. Driscoll and W. Vaughan, eds., (McGraw-Hill, New York, 8.1–8.124, 1978).

Dobrowolski, J. A.
Guenther, K. H.
Hall, E. E.
Li, L.
Zukic, M.

Appl. Opt.

• L. Li and J. A. Dobrowolski, “High-performance thin-film polarizing beam splitter operating at angles greater than the critical angle,” Appl. Opt. 39(16), 2754–2771 (2000). [CrossRef]
• L. Li and J. A. Dobrowolski, “Visible broadband, wide-angle, thin-film multilayer polarizing beam splitter,” Appl. Opt. 35(13), 2221–2225 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Eng.

• M. Zukic and K. H. Guenther, “Design of nonpolarizing achromatic beamsplitters with dielectric multilayers,” Opt. Eng. 28, 165–171 (1989).

Opt. Photonics News

• L. Li, “The design of optical thin film coatings with total and frustrated total internal reflection,” Opt. Photonics News 14(9), 24–30 (2003). [CrossRef]

Phys. Rev.

• E. E. Hall, “The penetration of totally reflected light into rarer medium,” Phys. Rev. 15, 73–106 (1902).

Other

• H. A. Macleod, Thin Film Optical Filters, 3rd edition, (Institute of Physics, Bristol, 2001).
• H. A. Macleod and Z. Milanovic, “Immersed beamsplitter-an old problem,” Optical Interference Coatings (OIC), 28–30 (1992).
• L. Li, P. Ma and P. Verly, “Non-polarizing thin film interference filters with FTIR,” Optical Interference Coatings (OIC), ThD3 (2004).
• J. A. Dobrowolski, “Optical properties of films and coatings,” Handbook of Optics, 2nd edition, M. Bass, ed., Optical Society of America, (McGraw-Hill, New York, 42.1–42.130, 1995).
• L. Li, D. Poitras and X. Tong, “Broadband tunable Fabry-Perot filters,” Optical Interference Coatings (OIC), ThB3 (2004).
• E. D. Palik, Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I Academic Press Inc., Orlando, (1985)
• J. A. Dobrowolski, “Coatings and Filters,” in Handbook of Optics W.G. Driscoll and W. Vaughan, eds., (McGraw-Hill, New York, 8.1–8.124, 1978).

2003, Li, Opt. Photonics News
2000, Li, Appl. Opt.
1996, Li, Appl. Opt.
1989, Zukic, Opt. Eng.
1902, Hall, Phys. Rev.

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