Abstract

First-order perturbation theory is used to describe diffractive optical elements. This method provides an extension of Kirchhoff’s thin element approximation. In particular, the perturbation approximation considers propagation effects due to a finite depth of diffractive structures. The perturbation method is explicitly applied to various problems in diffractive optics, mostly related to the analysis of surface-relief structures. As part of this investigation this approach is compared with alternative extensions of the thin element model. This comparison illustrates that perturbation theory allows a consistent unified treatment of many diffraction phenomena, preserving the simplicity of Fourier optics.

© 1999 Optical Society of America

Step-transition perturbation approach for pixel-structured nonparaxial diffractive elements

Tuomas Vallius, Markku Kuittinen, Jari Turunen, and Ville Kettunen
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 19(6) 1129-1135 (2002)

Pseudospectral method for the analysis of diffractive optical elements

P. G. Dinesen, J. S. Hesthaven, J. P. Lynov, and L. Lading
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 16(5) 1124-1130 (1999)

Efficient optimization of diffractive optical elements based on rigorous diffraction models

Markus E. Testorf and Michael A. Fiddy
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 18(11) 2908-2914 (2001)

Diffraction from deformed volume holograms: perturbation theory approach

Kehan Tian, Thomas Cuingnet, Zhenyu Li, Wenhai Liu, Demetri Psaltis, and George Barbastathis
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 22(12) 2880-2889 (2005)

Generalized conversion from the phase function to the blazed surface-relief profile of diffractive optical elements

Michael A. Golub
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 16(5) 1194-1201 (1999)