We formulate and apply an efficient finite-difference time-domain algorithm to the analysis of axially symmetric diffractive optical elements. We discuss aspects relating to minimizing numerical dispersion in the incident field, application of absorbing boundary conditions in the radial direction, convergence to a steady state, and propagation of the steady-state electromagnetic fields from the finite-difference time-domain region to the plane of interest. Incorporation of these aspects into a single finite-difference time-domain algorithm results in an extremely efficient and robust method for diffractive optical element analysis. Application to the analysis of subwavelength and multilevel lenses, both with and without loss, for focusing planar and Gaussian beams is presented.

© 1999 Optical Society of America

[Optical Society of America ]

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• High-diffraction-efficiency pseudorandom encoding (JOSAA)
• Stratified volume diffractive optical elements as high-efficiency gratings (JOSAA)
• Kinoforms Designed to Produce Different Fan-Out Patterns for Two Wavelengths (AO)
• Implementation of Pseudo-Nondiffracting Beams by Use of Diffractive Phase Elements (AO)
• Iterative Simulated Quenching for Designing Irregular-Spot-Array Generators (AO)

Related Conference Papers

• Waveguiding at 1550nm using photonic crystal
• Femtosecond pulse encoding and self phase-reconstruction by a two-photon-recorded single-tip diffractive optics
• Diffractive Generation of Non-Redundant Images for a Multi-Aperture, Thin, High-Resolution Camera
• Apodization of lithographically-scribed planar holographic Bragg reflectors via effective gray-scale
• Vector Beam Generation From A Passively Phase Stable Diffractive Optical Element Interferometer