@article {12213, title = {Refractive Index Changes of Pd-Coated Magnesium Ianthanide Switchable Mirrors Upon Hydrogen Insertion}, journal = {Journal of Applied Physics}, volume = {85}, number = {1}, year = {1999}, month = {01/1999}, pages = {408-413}, chapter = {408}, abstract = {

The optical effect upon insertion of hydrogen into Pd-coated magnesium lanthanide switchable mirrors is investigated in terms of the changes of their complex refractive indices. A significant change in the optical constants of LnMg layers is seen between the as-deposited state and the dehydrided state after one cycle. Furthermore, the optical effect of switching the Pd cap layer to a PdH cap layer was determined. It is shown that the Pd layer mainly limits the visible transmittance of the hydrided stack to about 35\%-40\%. Whereas the extinction coefficient of dehydrided LnMg layers at 550 nm is between 2.2 and 3.1, it is as low 10-4 as in the transparent state. This is of great promise to applications requiring large optical contrast (e.g., optical switches).

}, issn = {0021-8979 }, doi = {10.1063/1.369399}, author = {Klaus von Rottkay and Michael D. Rubin and Peter A. Duine} }