Digitizing optical constants

Getting optical constants from literature data means to get 2 sets of data - either n and k (which are the real and imaginary part of the complex refractive index) or real and imaginary part of the dielectric function. In both cases the following actions are to be done.

Real part

First digitize the real part as described above. When you are ready and the data look satisfying, click the button Data to field 1. This copies the data to a separate data field called 'Field 1' where we will pick up the data later on. Verify that the data have correctly arrived by clicking on the button Field 1 which opens a separate window. Pressing the key 'a' performs automatic scaling of the data so that we can see what we have.

Imaginary part

Do the procedure that has been described for the real part for the imaginary part as well. However, now use the commands for 'Field 2' instead - after the digitizing press the button Data to field 2 and to inspect the data press Field 2.

Joining the data fields

Finally we have to join the digitized data sets for real and imaginary part.

If you have digitized data of a graph showing the complex refractive index, click the button Import as n and k. You will be asked to enter the wanted spectral range and the wanted number of data points, and finally a joined data set is generated and displayed in a separate window. This optical constant window can represent the data either as dielectric function or refractive index. Use the submenu Property to select which representation you want to see. You can save the data to a data file using the Export submenu, or to the workbook using the Workbook submenu.

In case of a digitized dielectric function click on Import as dielectric func. in order to join the 2 data fields.

Using the digitized values in SCOUT or CODE

If you want to do computations in our thin film analysis and design programs SCOUT and CODE, you have to generate a new object of type 'Imported dielectric function' in the list of materials. The new object then has to import the new digitized data, either from a generated data file or a workbook data block entered by copy&paste.