Optical Properties of Clean Molybdenum*

Abstract

Results are given of reflectance measurements made on clean molybdenum in ultrahigh vacuum throughout the visible and quartz ultraviolet. Samples were rolled sheet of good surface finish, not subjected to any polishing procedures. The complex refractive index is estimated from reflectance vs angle of incidence data by the method of Tousey. At the few wavelengths where comparison is possible, the optical properties agree with those measured by Worthing and by Summers on bulk molybdenum. Near normal incidence the reflectance increases from about 55% in the visible to near 65% in the quartz ultraviolet, contrary to the lower values reported for evaporated molybdenum films by other investigators.