Abstract

The numerical design of optical layer systems can be subdivided into two main approaches: optimization of a starting design with a performance that is close to that desired, or the use of a thin film synthesis method in which the starting design is either optional or is quite rudimentary. Both approaches rely heavily on refinement methods. The efficiency of various refinement methods have been compared recently;¹ so have the relative speeds of different thin film synthesis methods.² In this latter study it has been shown that for several of the synthesis methods the initial speed advantage was lost during the refinement stage. However, for the technologically important case of multilayers composed of two materials only it is possible to devise refinement methods that are very fast. The existence of such procedures impacts on the optimum choice of the synthesis method. In the interface refinement method described substantial time savings are affected through the minimization of the evaluations of the elements of the layer matrices.

© 1991 Optical Society of America