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A model capable of explaining recent experimental results showing a considerable decrease in the thermal diffusivity of optical coatings is presented. The model assumes that the coatings contain microcracks. It predicts that such imperfections can cause reduction factors of 2 or more orders of magnitude in the thermal conductivity of the films, when compared to the corresponding bulk values. If the cracks enclose a region where light is absorbed the thermal isolation can lead to damage of the coating. A similar model consisting of a random distribution of voids only predicts a modest reduction of the net thermal conductivity.
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Redondo et al. (1986) studied this question.