Abstract
Ultra-thin silver films were deposited by thermal evaporation, and the dielectric functions of samples were simulated using Drude-Lorentz oscillators. When s-polarized incident light from the BK7 glass into thin silver film at 45° angle using attenuated total reflection (ATR) mode, we experimental observed that the reflection reach a minimum of 1.87% at 520 nm for thickness of d~6.3 nm silver film, and it reach a minimum of 10.1% at 500 nm for thickness of d~4.1 nm. Moreover, we simulated the absorption changes with incident angles at 520 nm for both p-polarized (TM wave) and s-polarized (TE wave) light using transfer matrix theory, and calculated the electric field distributions. The absorption as a function of incident angles of TM wave and TE wave showed different characteristics under ATR mode, TE wave reached the maximum absorption around the critical angle θc~41.1°, while TM wave reached the minimum absorption.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Leftheriotis G, Yianoulis P, Patrikios D. Deposition and optical properties of optimised ZnS-Ag-ZnS thin films for energy saving applications. Thin Solid Films, 1997, 306(1): 92–99
Yeo C I, Choi J H, Kim J B, Lee J C, Lee Y T. Spin-coated Ag nanoparticles for enhancing light absorption of thin film a-Si:H solar cells. Optical Materials Express, 2014, 4(2): 346–351
Manickam G, Gandhiraman R, Vijayaraghavan R K, Kerr L, Doyle C, Williams D E, Daniels S. Protection and functionalisation of silver as an optical sensing platform for highly sensitive SPR based analysis. Analyst, 2012, 137(22): 5265–5271
Zhang Z, Liu Q, Qi Z M. Study of Au-Ag alloy film based infrared surface plasmon resonance sensors. Acta Physica Sinica, 2013, 62 (6): 0607031–0607036
Lal S, Link S, Halas N J. Nano-optics from sensing to waveguiding. Nature Photonics, 2007, 1(11): 641–648
Zhou M, Li Y P, Zhou S, Liu D Q. Optical properties and surface morphology of thin silver films deposited by thermal evaporation. Chinese Physics Letters, 2015, 32(7): 0778021–0778024
Tischler J R, Bradley M S, Bulovic V. Critically coupled resonators in vertical geometry using a planar mirror and a 5 nm thick absorbing film. Optics Letters, 2006, 31(13): 2045–2047
Driessen E F C, de Dood M J A. The perfect absorber. Applied Physics Letters, 2009, 94(17): 1711091
Li H, Sheng C X, Chen Q. Optical bistability in Ag-dielectric multilayers. Chinese Physics Letters, 2012, 29(5): 0542011–0542014
Dominici L, Michelotti F, Brown T M, Reale A, Di Carlo A. Plasmon polaritons in the near infrared on fluorine doped tin oxide films. Optics Express, 2009, 17(12): 10155–10167
Macleod H A. Society of Vacuum Coaters, Issue Fall, Bulletin, 2006, 24
Macleod H A. Thin Film Optical Filters. 3rd ed. London: Institute of Physics Publishing, 2001
Macleod H A. Society of Vacuum Coaters, Issue Summer, Bulletin, 2013, 24
Naik G V, Shalaev V M, Boltasseva A. Alternative plasmonic materials: beyond gold and silver. Advanced Materials, 2013, 25(24): 3264–3294
Ma Y W, Wu Z W, Zhang L H, Zhang J. Theoretical studies of optical properties of silver nanoparticles. Chinese Physics Letters, 2010, 27(2): 0242071–0242074
Mock J J, Smith D R, Schultz S. Local refractive index dependence of plasmon resonance spectra from individual nanoparticles. Nano Letters, 2003, 3(4): 485–491
Vassant S, Hugonin J P, Marquier F, Greffet J J. Berreman mode and epsilon near zero mode. Optics Express, 2012, 20(21): 23971–23977
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Ming Zhou obtained the Ph.D. degree from Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and then works in Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dr. Zhou specializes field including design and preparation of optical thin film, metal thin films and infrared optical materials.
Sheng Zhou obtained the Master degree from University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, and then works in Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research interests including preparation of multi-channel narrowband filters and D/M/D multilayers.
Gang Chen works in Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Now he is studying for Doctor's degree in Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research fields mainly engaged in preparation of narrowband filters, infrared filters, and beam splitters
Yaopeng Li works in Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Now he is studying for Master's degree in School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University. He mainly engaged in preparation of all kinds of large size and high precision metal films.
Prof. Dingquan Liu is the director of the Department of Optical Coatings and Materials, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His mainly research field is thin film optics and technology, especially in infrared optical thin film and their applications. Now his research interests focus on: 1) nano bandwidth optical filters; 2) micro thin film optics; 3) polarization modulation based on thin films.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhou, M., Zhou, S., Chen, G. et al. Optical performance of ultra-thin silver films under the attenuated total reflection mode. Front. Optoelectron. 9, 549–554 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-016-0574-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-016-0574-7