Topology of obliquely coated silicon monoxide layers

Silicon monoxide layers, coated at oblique angles of 45°–87° onto indium oxide coated glass substrates, are examined by TEM for angularly dependent surface topology. ’’Striations’’ observed at angles near 81° are discussed in terms of the aligning influence that these features exert upon nematic liquid crystals. Included are photomicrographs of these striations as well as of a ’’scale’’ feature observed at angles greater than 83°. Existence of the ’’scale’’ feature is correlated to previously observed asymmetric diffuse diffraction effects.