title: Optical properties of a metal island film close to a smooth metal surface.
abstract: Bright colors have been observed when a metal island film is deposited on top of a silver mirror with a separating quartz layer. For spacer layer thicknesses that are varied from 0 to 140 nm, the visual appearance changes from blue/black to a series of brilliant spectrumlike colors. The sequence is repeated similarly for higher interlayer thicknesses. The phenomenon is analyzed in terms of a stratified medium theory by using TEM data and an electromagnetic model for the optical constants of the metal island film. For island films with a sufficiently high absorbance (> 0.35), the spectra are characterized by two sharp minima where the reflectivity drops to values below l0(-3). The observed thickness dependence is analyzed in terms of a complex combination of the phase shifts caused by the island film, the spacer, and the relevant interfaces.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leitner
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Aussenegg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wokaun