Low-refractive-index dye-aggregate films with small absorption based on anomalous dispersion

Appl Opt. 2005 Feb 20;44(6):906-11. doi: 10.1364/ao.44.000906.

Abstract

Complex-refractive-index spectra of Squarylium (SQ) dye-aggregate films deposited upon metal films have been investigated by measurements of properties of the films including absorption spectra (AS) and attenuated total reflection. Complex refractive indices are estimated by Kramers-Kronig analysis for the AS and by a theoretical curve-fitting analysis for attenuated total reflection. The dye-aggregate films exhibited an absorption that was blueshifted from that of a monomer, as a result of the H-aggregate formation of SQ molecules, and had a changing refractive index with anomalous dispersion about the H-absorption band. From both measurements of the SQ films it was found that there is a region of low absorption in the short-wavelength side of the absorption band and that the refractive index there is lower than that of glass.