Anisotropic extension of the Parratt formalism

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Sajti, Szilárd, Deák, László
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2026
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author Sajti, Szilárd
Deák, László
author_facet Sajti, Szilárd
Deák, László
contents Neutron and X-ray reflectometry are important methods for studying thin multilayer systems. The Parratt method and the method of characteristic matrices, also referred to as transfer matrices, are used for simulation, evaluation of experimental results, and designing optical systems, like mirrors. The Parratt method had been derived for isotropic systems. The method of characteristic matrices can also handle anisotropic problems, but it is burdened with numerical instabilities, which may arise in the case of thick samples at grazing angle incidence. In this paper, we derive a generalized Parratt method applicable to anisotropic systems. Furthermore, as we show, this is devoid of the numerical instabilities arising in the method of characteristic matrices. We derive formulae for both reflectivity and transmissivity. The stability of the new approach is demonstrated by comparing calculated results obtained via different methods. The problem of rough interfaces is also addressed, and the results gained by different approximations for some systems are compared.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_06074
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Anisotropic extension of the Parratt formalism
Sajti, Szilárd
Deák, László
Other Condensed Matter
Neutron and X-ray reflectometry are important methods for studying thin multilayer systems. The Parratt method and the method of characteristic matrices, also referred to as transfer matrices, are used for simulation, evaluation of experimental results, and designing optical systems, like mirrors. The Parratt method had been derived for isotropic systems. The method of characteristic matrices can also handle anisotropic problems, but it is burdened with numerical instabilities, which may arise in the case of thick samples at grazing angle incidence. In this paper, we derive a generalized Parratt method applicable to anisotropic systems. Furthermore, as we show, this is devoid of the numerical instabilities arising in the method of characteristic matrices. We derive formulae for both reflectivity and transmissivity. The stability of the new approach is demonstrated by comparing calculated results obtained via different methods. The problem of rough interfaces is also addressed, and the results gained by different approximations for some systems are compared.
title Anisotropic extension of the Parratt formalism
topic Other Condensed Matter
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.06074