Multilayer medium

In the physical sciences, a multilayer or stratified medium is a stack of different thin films. Typically, a multilayer is man made for a specific purpose. Since layers are thin with respect to some relevant length scale, interface effects are much more important than in bulk materials, giving rise to novel physical properties.

The term "multilayer" is not an extension of "monolayer" and "bilayer", which describe a single layer that is one or two molecules thick. A multilayer medium rather consists of several thin films.

Examples

An optical coating, as used for instance in a dielectric mirror, is made of several layers that have different refractive indexes.

Giant magnetoresistance is a macroscopic quantum effect observed in alternating ferromagnetic and non-magnetic conductive layers.

gollark: Um. That sounds like it would probably lead to increasingly bad problems, not solve them.
gollark: I would expect them to avoid randomly killing people, at least.
gollark: They should be held to high standards, considering their position.
gollark: It means to make local.
gollark: Assuming these "military police" had higher standards than regular police now, would that still be the case if you scaled that system up to match all the ones they're replacing?

See also

References
  • Pedrotti, Frank L.; Pedrotti, Leno M.; Pedrotti, Leno S. (2006-04-17). "Chapter 22 - Theory of Multilayer Films". Introduction to Optics (3 ed.). Pearson. p. 476-490. ISBN 978-0131499331.
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