INTENSE LUMINESCENCE WITH A TUNABLE WAVELENGTH FROM FILMS OF TETRAHEDRAL AMORPHOUS HYDROGENATED CARBON ON A FUSED QUARTZ SUBSTRATE

A model is proposed for a new type of optoelectronic device that utili zes the luminescence of a film of ta-C:H in the plane of a fused quart z substrate. It is observed that the luminescence radiation propagatin g in the interior of the substrate becomes highly monochromatized. How ever, along the normal to the plane of the substrate luminescence occu rs over a broad wavelength range, as is typical of ra-C:H. Visually th is luminescence is white, while the color of the luminescence in the p lane of the substrate depends on the film thickness. A him with a vari able thickness yields radiation with a color that varies from turquois e to red. This monochromatization effect in a film/substrate system is observed for the first time. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.