Measurement of thin film parameters with a prism coupler

The prism coupler, known from experiments on integrated optics, can be used to determine the refractive index and the thickness of a light-guiding thin film. Both parameters are obtained simultaneously and with good accuracy by measuring the coupling angles at the prism and fitting them by a theoretical dispersion curve. The fundamentals and limitations. of this method are discussed, its practical use, and mathematical procedures for the evaluation.