The present monograph represents itself as a tutorial to the ?eld of
optical properties of thin solid ?lms. It is neither a handbook for the
thin ?lm prac- tioner, noranintroductiontointerferencecoatingsdesign,
norareviewonthe latest developments in the ?eld. Instead, it is a
textbook which shall bridge the gap between ground level knowledge on
optics, electrodynamics, qu- tummechanics,
andsolidstatephysicsononehand, andthemorespecialized level of knowledge
presumed in typical thin ?lm optical research papers on the other hand.
In writing this preface, I feel it makes sense to comment on three
points, which all seem to me equally important. They arise from the
following (- tually interconnected) three questions: 1. Who can bene't
from reading this book? 2. What is the origin of the particular material
selection in this book? 3. Who encouraged and supported me in writing
this book? Let me start with the ?rst question, the intended readership
of this book. It should be of use for anybody, who is involved into the
analysis of - tical spectra of a thin ?lm sample, no matter whether the
sample has been prepared for optical or other applications. Thin ?lm
spectroscopy may be r- evant in semiconductor physics, solar cell
development, physical chemistry, optoelectronics, and optical coatings
development, to give just a few ex- ples. The book supplies the reader
with the necessary theoretical apparatus for understanding and modelling
the features of the recorded transmission and re?ection spec
