Numerical simulation and rational design of optically anisotropic columnar films

Abstract

Optical anisotropy is an inherent property of columnar dielectric films, such as those fabricated by the glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique. This process utilizes physical vapor deposition combined with computer-controlled substrate motion to finely tune the direction of column growth and vital morphological parameters such as column cross-section and inter-columnar spacing. Control over the anisotropic properties of the porous film provides an opportunity to design polarization-selective photonic devices and films with improved band gap properties. Anisotropic defects in multilayer films also result in a polarization-sensitive position of resonant transmission modes. We employed the finite-difference time-domain and frequency-domain methods to theoretically analyze and design columnar films with unique band-gap properties. The following morphologies were considered: (i) S-shaped columnar films with polarization-dependent band-gap position and width. Using numerical simulations we have shown that the competitive effect of different sources of anisotropy can be used to engineer photonic band gaps with strong selectivity to linearly-polarized light; (ii) Rugate thin films with an anisotropic defect, which exhibit resonant mode splitting. Optical devices were fabricated using titanium dioxide because it has good transparency in the visible range of the optical spectrum and a large bulk refractive index. Experimental results were compared to simulations to verify the designs and understand the limitations of the fabrication process.