<P> Real coatings do not reach perfect performance, though they are capable of reducing a surface reflection coefficient to less than 0.1% . Also, the layer will have the ideal thickness for only one distinct wavelength of light . Other difficulties include finding suitable materials for use on ordinary glass, since few useful substances have the required refractive index (n ≈ 1.23) that will make both reflected rays exactly equal in intensity . Magnesium fluoride (MgF) is often used, since this is hard - wearing and can be easily applied to substrates using physical vapor deposition, even though its index is higher than desirable (n = 1.38). </P> <P> Further reduction is possible by using multiple coating layers, designed such that reflections from the surfaces undergo maximal destructive interference . One way to do this is to add a second quarter - wave thick higher - index layer between the low - index layer and the substrate . The reflection from all three interfaces produces destructive interference and anti-reflection . Other techniques use varying thicknesses of the coatings . By using two or more layers, each of a material chosen to give the best possible match of the desired refractive index and dispersion, broadband anti-reflection coatings covering the visible range (400--700 nm) with maximal reflectivities of less than 0.5% are commonly achievable . </P> <P> The exact nature of the coating determines the appearance of the coated optic; common AR coatings on eyeglasses and photographic lenses often look somewhat bluish (since they reflect slightly more blue light than other visible wavelengths), though green and pink - tinged coatings are also used . </P> <P> If the coated optic is used at non-normal incidence (that is, with light rays not perpendicular to the surface), the anti-reflection capabilities are degraded somewhat . This occurs because the phase accumulated in the layer relative to the phase of the light immediately reflected decreases as the angle increases from normal . This is counterintuitive, since the ray experiences a greater total phase shift in the layer than for normal incidence . This paradox is resolved by noting that the ray will exit the layer spatially offset from where it entered and will interfere with reflections from incoming rays that had to travel further (thus accumulating more phase of their own) to arrive at the interface . The net effect is that the relative phase is actually reduced, shifting the coating, such that the anti-reflection band of the coating tends to move to shorter wavelengths as the optic is tilted . Non-normal incidence angles also usually cause the reflection to be polarization - dependent . </P>

Anti reflective coating on lenses use thin film interference