A comparative study on the reflectivity of metallic mirrors finished by deterministic and random processes

Abstract

Manufacturing has reached the level of finishing the metallic& non-metallic surfaces to nanoand sub- nanoregimes. Metallic mirrors finished in this regime are finding their application in visible range and near infra-red optics. There are basically two types of methods by which the metallic mirrors are finished viz. deterministic nano- regime machining and random finishing. The present study investigates the behaviour of reflectivity pattern for various wavelengths of incident light on two surfaces generated by these methods and discusses about the range of wavelength for which the surface can be used as a reflective mirror. This paper also explains the difference in reflectivity pattern caused due to nano-irregularities present on the two surfaces due to the process characteristics. One simple model has also been used to confirm the experimental results. Alternatively, this study also expects the scope of predicting the surface characteristics by using the reflectivity spectrum