General Approach to Perfect and Broadband Absorption in Thin Films
General Approach to Perfect and Broadband Absorption in Thin Films
Absorption of light in thin films is normally probabilistic. Here, we show that a film of any lossy material, with appropriate thickness, can achieve perfect absorption at any chosen wavelength. We derive the dispersion required to maintain perfect absorption across all wavelengths, show that real materials come close and demonstrate that even non-dispersive lossy materials can typically maintain >95% absorption across a spectral octave or more. This is achieved by coating a dielectric prism, where full absorption of linearly polarized and unpolarized light can be achieved with one and two coatings, respectively. Proof-of-principle experiments with chromium- and nickel-coated glass prisms show absorption exceeding 95% throughout the 480–1700 nm spectral range. We believe that the proposed method provides opportunities from photovoltaics and light detection to reflection-prevention and stealth technologies.
absorption, interference, photonics
45928-45936
Salimzhanov, Baurzhan
ee3893b2-1277-4f68-a867-c2cf0abc0519
Plum, Eric
50761a26-2982-40df-9153-7aecc4226eb5
21 October 2025
Salimzhanov, Baurzhan
ee3893b2-1277-4f68-a867-c2cf0abc0519
Plum, Eric
50761a26-2982-40df-9153-7aecc4226eb5
Salimzhanov, Baurzhan and Plum, Eric
(2025)
General Approach to Perfect and Broadband Absorption in Thin Films.
Optics Express, 33 (22), .
(doi:10.1364/OE.573208).
Abstract
Absorption of light in thin films is normally probabilistic. Here, we show that a film of any lossy material, with appropriate thickness, can achieve perfect absorption at any chosen wavelength. We derive the dispersion required to maintain perfect absorption across all wavelengths, show that real materials come close and demonstrate that even non-dispersive lossy materials can typically maintain >95% absorption across a spectral octave or more. This is achieved by coating a dielectric prism, where full absorption of linearly polarized and unpolarized light can be achieved with one and two coatings, respectively. Proof-of-principle experiments with chromium- and nickel-coated glass prisms show absorption exceeding 95% throughout the 480–1700 nm spectral range. We believe that the proposed method provides opportunities from photovoltaics and light detection to reflection-prevention and stealth technologies.
Text
Author Accepted Manuscript
- Accepted Manuscript
Restricted to Repository staff only until 31 December 2025.
Request a copy
Text
Supplementary Information
- Accepted Manuscript
Restricted to Repository staff only until 31 December 2025.
Request a copy
Text
oe-33-22-45928
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 1 October 2025
Published date: 21 October 2025
Keywords:
absorption, interference, photonics
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 505982
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/505982
ISSN: 1094-4087
PURE UUID: 7dfc86fd-c17e-430d-9c2c-c25c3f8553a4
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 24 Oct 2025 17:04
Last modified: 01 Nov 2025 02:41
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Baurzhan Salimzhanov
Author:
Eric Plum
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics