Anisotropic Optical Properties of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Films

Abstract

A study is performed of the transmission, reflection, and photoluminescence spectra of films of hexagonal boron nitride with the thickness of several mono-atomic layers prepared by splitting bulk samples in an ultrasonic bath. The homogeneity of the obtained samples is established via scanning electron microscopy. Spectral dependences of the linear and circular polarizations of light transmitted through a sample are measured. Studying the Stokes parameters of light transmitted through a sample allows latent anisotropy in the optical properties of boron nitride films to be identified. Statistical analysis of optical microscope images reveals a macroscopic particle density distribution with ordering that corresponds to the optical axis observed in polarization.