Inhomogeneous thin film optical filters fabricatedusing glancing angle deposition

A novel method for fabricating inhomogeneous thin film optical interference filters is discussed. Glancing angle deposition (GLAD) and substrate motion are used to create a single material thin film with periodic index variation as a function of thickness. Filters fabricated with this technique promise to be much simpler and cheaper to produce and to have much lower stress than interference filters fabricated with other techniques.