%0 Journal Article
%A Klaus von Rottkay
%A Michael D Rubin
%A Peter A Duine
%B Journal of Applied Physics
%D 1999
%G eng
%N 1
%P 408-413
%R 10.1063/1.369399
%T Refractive Index Changes of Pd-Coated Magnesium Ianthanide Switchable Mirrors Upon Hydrogen Insertion
%V 85
%1 <p>Windows and Daylighting Group</p>
%2 LBNL-41976
%8 01/1999
%X <p>The optical effect upon insertion of hydrogen into Pd-coated magnesium lanthanide switchable mirrors is investigated in terms of the changes of their complex refractive indices. A significant change in the optical constants of LnMg layers is seen between the as-deposited state and the dehydrided state after one cycle. Furthermore, the optical effect of switching the Pd cap layer to a PdH cap layer was determined. It is shown that the Pd layer mainly limits the visible transmittance of the hydrided stack to about 35%-40%. Whereas the extinction coefficient of dehydrided LnMg layers at 550 nm is between 2.2 and 3.1, it is as low 10<sup>-4</sup> as in the transparent state. This is of great promise to applications requiring large optical contrast (e.g., optical switches).</p>