Composite films of Ta-Si oxide and graded-index-like films have been realized by using radio-frequency ion-beam sputtering. The influence of thermal annealing on the optical properties and residual stress of single-layer composite films and graded-index-like films has been studied. The residual stress and optical properties of both types of films were more stable than that of the notch filters fabricated from a series of discrete quarter-wave layers made by alternatively stacking high and low index materials after annealing. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America
