Tunable natural nano-arrays: controlling surface properties and light reflectance

Jolanta A. Watson; Sverre Myhra; Gregory S. Watson

doi:10.1117/12.638366

29 December 2005 Tunable natural nano-arrays: controlling surface properties and light reflectance

Jolanta A. Watson, Sverre Myhra, Gregory S. Watson

Proceedings Volume 6037, Device and Process Technologies for Microelectronics, MEMS, and Photonics IV; 60371D (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.638366
Event: Microelectronics, MEMS, and Nanotechnology, 2005, Brisbane, Australia

Abstract

The general principles of optical design based on the theories of reflection, refraction and diffraction have been rigorously developed and optimized over the last three centuries. Of increasing importance has been the ability to predict and devise new optical technologies designed for specific functions. A key design feature of many of today's optical materials is the control of reflection and light transmittance through the medium. A sudden transition or impedance mismatch from one optical medium to another can result in unwanted reflections from the surface plane. Modification of a surface by creation of a gradual change in refractive index over a significant portion of a wavelength range will result in a reduction in reflection. An alternative surface modification to the multi layered stack coating (gradient index coating) is to produce a surface with structures having a period and height shorter than the light wavelength. These structures act like a pseudo-gradient index coating and can be described by the effective medium theory. Bernhard and Miller some forty years ago were the first to observe such structures found on the surface of insects. These were found in the form of hexagonally close packed nanometre sized protrusions on the corneal surface of certain moths. In this study we report on similar structures which we have found on certain species of cicada wings demonstrating that the reflective/transmission properties of these natural nano-structures can be tuned by controlled removal of the structure height using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).

Citation Download Citation

Jolanta A. Watson, Sverre Myhra, and Gregory S. Watson "Tunable natural nano-arrays: controlling surface properties and light reflectance", Proc. SPIE 6037, Device and Process Technologies for Microelectronics, MEMS, and Photonics IV, 60371D (29 December 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.638366

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available