Abstract

There are many instances in which rays are traced through an optical coating. Suppose that a ray impinges upon an optical coating at nonnormal incidence. The coating may alter that ray in the following ways: (1). A radiant reflectance of less 100% attenuates the reflected ray. (2). The phase shift upon reflection alters the phase of the reflected ray. (3). Any loss due to absorption or transmission attenuates the ray. (4). The phase shift upon transmission alters the retardance of the ray. (5). Effects (1) to (4) alter the state of polarization of the ray.

© 1998 Optical Society of America