Efficient refinement algorithm for the synthesis of inhomogeneous optical coatings

An efficient first-order algorithm with an exact calculation of the gradients is described and applied to the refinement of inhomogeneous dielectric thin films. Numerical results calculated at normal and oblique angles of incidence are correlated with an important mathematical theorem. It is shown that, when appropriate conditions are satisfied, the synthesis process generates binary-type solutions based on two materials, including classical multilayers. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.