title: Confocal imaging of a stratified medium.
abstract: The confocal imaging of stratified media (for example, thin-film structures) is investigated. A simple model is introduced for the imaging of a single layer in order to explore the axial resolution attainable. A rigorous model is also described and compared with experimental results from thin surface films. A theoretical treatment of imaging of stratified media with a continuously varying refractive index is presented, and the inverse problem of reconstructing the refractive-index profile from a confocal image is discussed.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Sheppard
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cogswell