Optical Layer Systems for Product Authentication:Interference, Scattering, Light Diffusion and Ellipsometric Encoding as Public, Hidden and Forensic Security Features

Abstract

Embedding of information on surfaces is state of the art for identification testing in which public, hidden and forensic features are used. In many instances, the legal authentication of a product, a material or a document is required. Among the surface-based encoded labels, bar codes and data matrices are most frequently applied. They are publicly visible. The material itself is irrelevant, only a sufficient optical contrast is required.

However, a strong material dependence of the label can be achieved by means of Fabry-Perot layer stacks. Stack designs are described with regard to all three security levels: public features (e.g. color and tilt effect) perceptible by the human eye, hidden features (e.g. optical response in a given spectral range) detectable by commonly available instruments and forensic features (ellipsometric quantities ? and ? as a function of wavelength ? and angle of incidence AOI) only detectable by sophisticated instruments.

Regarding material-correlated authentication, ellipsometric quantities ? and ? are used as encoded forensic features for the first time. Hence, Fabry-Perot layer stacks as information carriers in combination with imaging ellipsometry as optical read-out system provide all-in-one anti-counterfeiting capabilities.