## Uncategorised

### Graphical tools

 OptiLayer provides various tools to present graphically your results.  On the Evaluation window you can see any evaluated spectral characteristics. All evaluated spectral characteristics can be plotted. You can easily adjust types of plots, axis, scales, etc. The plots can be adjusted through standard chart settings: Along with  the main Evaluation window, you can open multiple evaluation windows and plot the same or other spectral characteristics related to the same design at different angles of incidence, polarization, spectral ranges. Example: main evaluation window shows transmittance of a bandpass filter and target values (violet crosses) For example, you may need to plot other spectral characteristics in order to better present features in the most important spectral ranges. You may need to see what happens if the angle of incidence deviates from that one that what used in the design process.  Example: second evaluation window presents transmittance of the same bandpass filter in one of the high-transmittance ranges and in a larger scale. Spectral behavior at small incidence angles ican be also interesting: You can compare spectral characteristics of different designs at one plot or combine multiple spectral characteristics at one plot. The option and its settings are available through: Analysis --> Plot Engine: Example: comparison of transmittance data of three different designs: Using the powerful Analysis --> Plot Engine option you can plot dependencies of different spectral characteristics on various coordinates, namely: Wavelength, Angle of incidence, Refractive index of the ambient medium, Refractive index/Extinction coefficient of the substrate, Coating coordinate, Thickness of any layer (in this case additional setting - layer number - appears) Refractive index/Extinction coefficient of any layer (in this case additional setting - layer number - appears) Refractive index/Extinction coefficient of any material (in this case additional setting - layer number - appears) Example: Settings and dependence of the coating transmittance (averages polarization, wavelength 1500 nm) on the refractive index of the last 58-th layer. You can also plot dependencies of color coordinates in any color coordinate systems on various parameters. This powerful option can be applied in a combination with the Variator and provide all visual analysis possibilities of optical coatings designs. You can compare dependencies related to different designs or combine dependencies calculated for different spectral or angular ranges. You can save the plots as *.vtc2 files and combine them using stand-alone Plot Engine module. You can export the numerical data of the plots using: Right mouse button --> Chart --> Export --> Data --> Selection from Excel, text, HTML, etc. formats --> Save You can modify axis, panels,  etc. using standard Chart tools. Example: Settings and dependence of the color coordinates of the reflected light of a coating (averages polarization, chromaticities $$x$$ and $$y$$) on the extinction coefficient of the second (metal-dielectric) layer. Through Analysis --> Plot Engine option you can plot characteristics as functions of one or two parameters, according to the choice Y = f(X) or Z = f (X,Y). The list of arguments includes Wavelength, the Angle of incidence, Re(n) Ambient medium, Re(n) substrate, Im(n) substrate, coating coordinate, layer thickness, and Re(n) layer. The same set of arguments is provided for Y argument if you select a Z = f (X,Y) mode. In the same frame the range for the argument (From... To), the number of points (Points) and the argument increment between the points (Step) are specified. Example: 3D plot - dependence of the filter reflectance on the wavelength and on the incidence angle: All plots are ROTATABLE! Chart Windows (windows having plots and diagrams) has additional export formats: *.vtc2 files (this format is used by the powerful OptiLayer Plot Engine tool) *.pdf files (these files can be opened with Adobe Acrobat tools, http://www.adobe.com) *.eps PostScript files (encapsulated postscript version, these files are suitable for many printers) *.svg files (Scalable Vector Graphics, http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG) *.vml files (Vector Markup Language), http://www.w3.org/TR/NOTE-VML *.xaml files (Extensible Application Markup Language), defined athttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensible_Application_Markup_Language Windows can be saved as: *.bmp files (bitmap graphics format) *.jpg files (JPEG bitmap) *.wmf files (Windows metafiles format) *.pcx files (Paintbrush format) *.gif files (CompuServe bitmap) *.png files (Portable Networks Graphics) *.tiff files (Tagged Image File Format) The Digitize command is accessible from popup menus of Evaluation windows invoked by the right mouse button. When any graphic plot in Evaluation, Refinement, Needle Optimization, Random Optimization and other windows is displayed, this command allows you to read exact numerical (X,Y) values of the plotted characteristics. When the Digitize command is activated, a vertical bar is displayed in the plot window to visually identify the graph point being evaluated, an additional window labeled "Values List" appears on the screen. The values list displays the exact numerical values of all spectral characteristics that are presented in the window. Memorize submenu allows to store any plot for further comparison with another plot or plots. The submenu is available through Right mouse button --> Memorize plots

### Reports in OptiRE and OptiChar

 In the Data Fitting Window, OptiRE/OptiChar compare the measurement data and corresponding model spectral characteristics: OptiRE/OptiChar allow previewing the text with the information about the fitting of measurement data by theoretical spectral characteristics. This text can be saved or exported to Excel by one mouse click: OptiRE present thickness errors determined in the course of post-production characterization as a diagram or as different tables of values: OptiRE presents the current systematic and random errors in layer thicknesses in the text form (Thickness Errors Report): OptiRE plots initial, corrected refractive indices, drifted refractive indices or/and Layer Inhomogeneities if Refractive Index Correction option was applied or/and Index Drifts (Offsets) and Layer Inhomogeneities were determined in the course of the post-production characterization: The corresponding reports: Refractive indices Report, Index Drift Report and Inhomgeneities Report allow previewing the numerical values in the text form: OptiChar plots fitting of the experimental data by model data: Determined refractive indices, extinction coefficients, thickness dependence of the refractive index are shown in corresponding windows: OptiChar collects and show all layer information obtained in the course of the layer characterization in the Layer Report: Layer model(s) applied Determined layer thicknesses Model parameters Degree of inhomogeneity Surface overlayer Refractive index and extinction coefficient in a tabular form Discrepancy function value A similar report (Substrate Report) can be created if you characterized a substrate.

### Variator in OptiLayer

 Variator allows to study how the design performance changes with variations of layer thicknesses and refractive indices of the design and surrounding media. View --> Variator Using sliders, [-] and [+] buttons, or numerical controls you can adjust the parameters of the design, substrate and incident medium and almost instantly see the effect of such change. The changes are applied to all other OptiLayer windows, therefore you can study multiple effects at once. In the case of dispersive materials the variations are considered as offsets of the refractive index or extinction coefficient. In other words, a constant value controlled by the Variator is added to the refractive index spectral dependence. Along with variations in spectral characteristics, you can observe changes in all other characteristics (colors, color rendering index, color patch, average and integral values, refractive index profile, admittance, electric field, etc.) Example: we consider a 8-layer metal-dielectric coating (left panel) and study how variations in layer thicknesses of some layers and optical constants of metal-island layer affect spectral characteristics, color coordinates from 0 to 45 degrees as well as light and solar direct transmittance. Reflectance, transmittance and back side reflectance of the initial 8-layer metal dielectric design consisting of TiO2 (H), SiO2 (L) and Ag-SiO2 metal-island film: Color coordinates of reflectance and back side reflectance of the initial coating. The incidence angle is varying from 0 to 45 degrees, average polarization: Variations of thicknesses of metal layer and the last H-layer and optical constants of metal layer:   Revert Back button allows to restore the initial parameters. Save Modified Materials button is active if you applied any change to any of the materials. After the click OptiLayer creates copies of initial materials in Substrate and Layer Material databases. The names have ['] as a suffix in order to distinguish them from the initial materials. Any new Save operation will update these modified files again. Effect on spectral characteristics: Effect on color coordinates: Variations of integral characteristics:

### Import Data from Excel and Import from Multiple Files

 Import Spectra from Excel. This command first opens File Open dialog, where you need to select a corresponding MS Excel file with measurement data.  OptiChar performs smart scan of Excel file layout and represents all extracted data in the Import Spectra from Excel window. On the bottom all worksheets are listed and can be changed using tabs similar to Excel file, each extracted spectrum is represented in the list to the left with specification of column name, cell range and future measurement file name. The names can be adjusted if necessary editing cells in the Measurement Name column. Import column allows to deselect some spectra excluding them from Import operation. It is important to use Options dialog in order to set correct types of spectra, incidence angle and X- and Y-axis units. Import Multiple Files option greatly simplifies measurement data import. Using this option you can import many files in one simple operation. File format is recognized automatically by OptiChar/OptiRE. Import Multiple Files command opens the corresponding window. On the top of the window the currently opened folder is presented, it could be changed using a Browse button  at the right side. Reload button initiates reloading of all files in the current folder, it may be useful, if new files were added, or some files were deleted in this folder by some other program. Instead of using Browse button it is possible to use drag-and-drop operation. Simply select the files of interest or a folder containing these files and drop it onto the right part of the window.

### Import of optical constants from Refractiveindex.INFO database

 OptiLayer provides a convenient interface for the navigation through RefractiveIndex.INFO database.  In the left pane of the RefractiveIndex.INFO database window it is possible to select Shelf section and in the Book & Page part - a particular material of interest. The right pane shows the related detailed information including refractive index dispersion and the initial origin of the data. With Transfer button it is possible to transfer the data to the current Substrate database of you OptiLayer Problem Directory. You can transfer the data to the Layer Material database or Substrate database of your current Problem Directory. Transferred materials have the corresponding literature source in the comment field. You can use transferred materials/substrates for design process or for verification of your characterization results.

## OptiLayer Core Expertise:

OptiLayer allows the designing of all types of multilayers in accordance with desired specifications, among them:

Look our video examples at YouTube

### Easy to start

OptiLayer provides user-friendly interface and a variety of examples allowing even a beginner to effectively start to design and characterize optical coatings.        Read more...

### Docs / Support

Comprehensive manual in PDF format and e-mail support help you at each step of your work with OptiLayer.