[Thickness determination of nonhomogeneous membrane by an optical method]

A simple method is proposed to calculate bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) thickness using measurements of BLM reflectivity. BLM is considered to be nonhomogenous with the refractive index n = n(z)--a function of coordinate z normal to the membrane plane. The membrane thickness obtained with this method is 4 divided by 6% less than that obtained with the standard method.