The polarization properties of high numerical aperture holographic objectives were experimentally and theoretically investigated. A local planar grating model was combined with one-dimensional coupled wave theory to determine the full aperture s and p diffraction efficiency characteristics of this holographic optical element (HOE). To verify the modelling approach, diffraction efficiencies for s and p reconstruction waves were measured at local regions of the HOE aperture and compared to corresponding planar gratings. Good agreement was obtained between the theoretical model and the measured full aperture diffraction efficiency. Results indicated that the control of polarization sensitivity, along with the high diffraction efficiency obtainable with volume holograms suggests promising applications for holographic components in magneto-optic head designs.

Date Published: 19 May 1989
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 1078, Optical Data Storage Topical Meeting, (19 May 1989); doi: 10.1117/12.952754

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1078:
Optical Data Storage Topical Meeting
Gordon R. Knight; Clark N. Kurtz, Editor(s)