Transmittance and optical constants of Sr films in the 6–1220 eV spectral range

Strontium (Sr) is a material with low-absorption bands in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV), which makes it a potential candidate for band pass filters and multilayer coatings. Yet, a better knowledge of the optical properties of Sr is required for these developments. The optical constants n and k of Sr thin films have been obtained in the 6-1220 eV range from transmittance measurements performed at room temperature. These are the first experimental optical constant data of Sr in most of the range. Thin films of Sr with various thicknesses were deposited by evaporation in ultrahigh vacuum conditions, and their transmittance was measured in situ. Sr films were deposited onto grids coated with a thin C support film. Transmittance measurements were used to directly obtain the extinction coefficient k of Sr films. The refractive index n of Sr was calculated with Kramers-Kronig analysis. For this, k data were extrapolated both on the high-and on the low-energy sides by using experimental and calculated k data available in the literature. It was found that, similar to other alkaline-earth metals, Sr has a low absorption band in the EUV, which for Sr is below its N-2,N-3 edge, with a minimum at similar to 18.5 eV, a range where most materials in nature have a large absorption. A second spectral range of interest for the low absorption of Sr is below its M-4,M-5 edge at 132 eV. In spite of these remarkable properties, Sr is a very reactive material and the stability of coatings encompassing Sr may be an issue. Good consistency of the data resulted from the application of f and inertial sum rules. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics.