Carole Deumie

International round-robin experiment to test the International Organization for Standardization total-scattering draft standard

An international round-robin experiment has been conducted among laboratories in different countries to test the measurement and the data-analysis procedures in the International Organization for Standardization draft standard ISO/DIS 13696 for measuring total scattering from low-scatter laser optics. Ten laboratories measured total backscattering from high-reflectance mirrors, 50% beam splitters, and antireflection-coated windows. Results were sent to the Laser Zentrum Hannover, which acted as coordinator and analyzed all the backscattering data. The results showed that the procedure in the draft standard was useful for measuring and reporting backscattering for low-scatter optics. Problems encountered in the round-robin experiment included the accumulation of particles on the surfaces, particularly on the high-reflectance mirrors.

Ellipsometry of reflected and scattered fields for the analysis of substrate optical quality

Specular ellipsometry is a well-known and efficient technique to characterize surfaces and coatings. This technique has been extended to the measurement of scattered light. We present an experimental setup, using a polarization modulator, which permits us to characterize transition layers and roughness without a calibration procedure. Experimental results are presented concerning transition layers for damage threshold applications and for rough surfaces or bulks.

Optical properties calculated for multidielectric quarter-wave coatings on microspheres

Optical properties of overcoated microspheres are calculated and compared to those of planar multilayers, in regard to the sphere diameter. The classical criteria for in-situ optical monitoring is analyzed to control the growth of films on the spheres. Most coatings are multi-dielectric quarterwave stacks used in the thin film community.

Light scattering from edematous human corneal grafts' microstructure: experimental study and electromagnetic modelization

Along with the lens, the cornea is the only transparent tissue in the human body. However, the development of an edema involves structural disturbances increasing light scattering and leading to the opacification of the cornea. Several mechanisms of transparency loss have been studied in the literature, but the whole phenomenon is complex and the part played by each scatterer is still unclear. We propose here to study human corneal grafts combining microscopic OCT imagery with far-field measurement of the scattered light in the reflected half-space. We introduce afterwards numerical calculations based on electromagnetic equations solved with first order approximation to link the observed microscopic-scale structural modifications with the intensity level of the scattered light, and to try and quantify the relationship between them.

Light-scattering characterization of transparent substrates

Angle-resolved light scattering has been used for decades to quantify the surface roughness of optical components. However, because this technique is affected by the contribution of both interfaces of the sample, it cannot be applied to transparent substrates. We show how to overcome this issue and apply these principles to the characterization of superpolished samples.

From angle-resolved ellipsometry of light scattering to imaging in random media

A procedure is described to allow selective cancellation of polarized scattering within optical substrates and multilayers. It is shown how bulk scattering (respectively surface) can be directly eliminated while the remaining roughness (respectively bulk) signal is still measurable. The same procedure can be applied to isolate a single interface or bulk within a stack or to detect slight departure from perfect correlation within multilayers. Experiments and a procedure for selective imaging in random media are described.

Multidielectric quarter-wave coatings on microspheres: A study in colorimetric space

Spectral properties of quarter-wave stacks deposited on microspheres are investigated with Mie theory. These properties are converted into colorimetric spaces to deal with visual applications. An ion-beam-sputtering process is then implemented to produce elementary stacks on the spheres, and the resulting powders are characterized.

Efficiency of polarimetric z probing in optical multilayers

Numerical calculation is performed to validate the principles of a single optical technique devoted to real time probing or imaging of submultilayers within interferential coatings.