The differential method developed in the seventies reduces the problem of diffraction of light by a periodic structure to the numerical integration of a set of coupled differential equations. It works both for perfectly conducting gratings and for finite conductivity gratings, including dielectric ones. It can handle very easily dielectric overcoatings deposited on top of gratings and gives very low computation times. The principle of the method is explained and a review of its extensions and possibilities is given.

Date Published: 10 February 1981
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 0240, Periodic Structures, Gratings, Moire Patterns, and Diffraction Phenomena I, (10 February 1981); doi: 10.1117/12.965640

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 0240:
Periodic Structures, Gratings, Moire Patterns, and Diffraction Phenomena I
C. H. Chi; E. G. Loewen; C. L. O'Bryan III, Editor(s)