Abstract

The optical constants of gold were measured throughout the visible spectrum by means of an automatic ellipsometer which operates without a phase plate. The measurements were made at various angles of incidence and with radiation incident both at the air and substrate interfaces of the optically thick gold film specimens. Moreover, the effects of vacuum deposition parameters and of surface contamination in the atmosphere were investigated. The results to be presented are compared with those of other workers and it is concluded that these measuranents constitute a good check on the random and systematic errors associated with ellipsometric observations. Such a check is a necessary preliminary step to the measurements on bismuth which involve the additional complication of anisotropy and the need to make observations at two angles of incidence, at least.

© 1988 Optical Society of America