Matrix description of coherent and incoherent light reflection and transmission by anisotropic multilayer structures

• Published in: Applied optics (2004) Vol. 41; no. 13; p. 2521
• Main Authors: Postava, Kamil, Yamaguchi, Tomuo, Kantor, Roman
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2002
• ISSN: 1559-128X
• DOI: 10.1364/ao.41.002521

We propose a matrix method for the description of light reflection and transmission by an anisotropic multilayer system consisting of thin and thick layers. A method based on partial-wave matrix summations is applicable in the field of reflection and transmission photometry and ellipsometry. In the case of a thin anisotropic film, the interference effects were described by use of a coherent summation of Jones matrices. Incoherent intensity summations for a thick weakly anisotropic layer were characterized by use of the coherency vector formalism. Observable quantities or Mueller matrix components were obtained from the matrix describing transformation of the coherence vectors.