Plate-void model for thin-film form birefringence

A model for the optical response of obliquely deposited thin films

“…The quasistatic effective medium theory can be used to model optical properties because column diameters are very much smaller than the wavelengths of interest. In contrast to columnar dielectrics with packing anisotropy [4] the biaxial effect in absorbing films is large and very model-sensitive. Close approach between neighbouring columns is a feature of columnar structure in thin films.…”

“…:"e optics com;. ;.uni :y has been primarily interested in such effects in dielectric films (cspecially their elimination) and most attempts to model properties have therefore concentrated on non-absorbing oblique columnar films [3,4]. Oblique metals were initially of interest for magnetic applications [5] although it was noted that they had anisotropic optical absorption.…”