Glossary of Symbols and Acronyms

Diffraction Fundamentals

The Diffraction Phenomenon

Scalar Diffraction

Paraxial Approximation

Fresnel Diffraction

Fresnel Diffraction

Apertures with Integer Number of Fresnel Zones

Fresnel Zone Plates

Fresnel Zone Plate Properties

Fresnel Phase Plates

Comparing Fresnel Plates and Ideal Lenses

Efficiency of Fresnel Plates and Ideal Lenses

Talbot Effect

Fractional Talbot Distributions

Fraunhofer Diffraction

Fraunhofer Diffraction

Diffraction of Waves with Finite Sizes

Diffraction on Ring-Shaped Apertures

Energy Redistribution Within Diffraction Rings

Diffraction on Noncircular Apertures

Rectangular and Diamond-Shaped Apertures

Apodized Apertures

Apodized Apertures

Apodized Apertures with Central Obscuration

Field Obstruction by an Opaque Semiplane

Apodization with Serrated Edges

Serrated Apertures as Apodizers

Diffraction by Multiple Apertures

Diffraction by Multiple Apertures

Effects of Aperture Spacing

Aperture Fill Factor

Aperiodically Spaced Apertures

Resolution Limit in Optical Instruments

Resolution Limit in Optical Instruments

Superresolution Phenomenon

Superresolution with Two-Zone Phase Masks

Point Spread Function Engineering

Adjusting Diffraction-Ring Intensity

Amplitude and Phase Filter Comparison

Vortex Phase Masks

Combining Amplitude and Vortex Phase Masks

Diffractive Components

Diffraction Gratings

Volume Bragg Gratings

Polarization Dependency of Volume Bragg Gratings

One-Dimensional Surface-Relief Gratings

GRISM Elements

Two-Dimensional Diffractive Structures

Holographic Diffusers

Design of Fan-Out Elements

Diffractive Beam-Shaping Components

Digital Diffractive Optics

Three-Dimensional Diffractive Structures

Grating Properties

Grating Equation

Grating Properties

Free Spectral Range and Resolution

Grating Anomalies

Polarization Dependency of Grating Anomalies

Gratings as Angular Switches

Gratings as Optical Filters

Gratings as Polarizing Components

Blazing Condition

Blazing Condition

Blazed Angle Calculation

Optimum Blazed Profile Height

Scalar Diffraction Theory of a Grating

Scalar Diffraction Theory of a Grating

Diffraction Efficiency

Blaze Profile Approximation

Extended Scalar Diffraction Theory

Extended Scalar Diffraction Theory

Duty Cycle and Ghost Orders

Extended Scalar versus Rigorous Analysis

Gratings with Subwavelength Structures

Gratings with Subwavelength Structures

Blazed Binary Gratings

Relative Feature Size in the Resonant Domain

Effective Medium Theory

Scalar Diffraction Limitations and Rigorous Theory

Rigorous Analysis of Transmission Gratings

Analysis of Blazed Transmission Gratings

Polarization Dependency at Normal Incidence

Peak Efficiency of Blazed Profiles

Wavelength Dependency of Efficiency

Efficiency Changes with Incident Angle

Diffraction Efficiency for Small Feature Sizes

Polychromatic Diffraction Efficiency

Polychromatic Diffraction Efficiency

Monolithic Grating Doublet

Spaced Grating Doublet

Monolithic Grating Doublet with Two Profiles

Diffractive and Refractive Doublets: Comparison

Efficiency of Spaced Grating Doublets

Efficiency of Spaced Grating Doublets

Sensitivity to Fabrication Errors

Facet Width and Polarization Dependency

Sensitivity to Axial Component Spacing

Frequency Comb Formation

Diffractive Components with Axial Symmetry

Diffractive Components with Axial Symmetry

Diffractive Lens Surfaces

Diffractive Kinoforms

Binary Diffractive Lenses

Optical Power of a Diffractive Lens Surface

Diffractive Surfaces as Phase Elements

Stepped Diffractive Surfaces

Properties of Stepped Diffractive Surfaces

Multi-order Diffractive Lenses

Diffractive Lens Doublets

Diffractive Surfaces in Optical Systems

Diffractive Lens Surfaces in Optical Systems

Achromatic Hybrid Structures

Opto-thermal Properties of Optical Components

Athermalization with Diffractive Components

Athermalization with SDSs

Appendix: Diffractive Raytrace

Equation Summary

Bibliography

Index

Preface

Recent advancements in microfabrication technologies as well as the development of powerful simulation tools have led to a significant expansion of diffractive optics and the commercial availability of cost-effective diffractive optical components. Instrument developers can choose from a broad range of diffractive optical elements to complement refractive and reflective components in achieving a desired control of the optical field.

Material required for understanding the diffractive phenomenon is widely dispersed throughout numerous literature sources. This Field Guide offers scientists and engineers a comprehensive reference in the field of diffractive optics. College students and photonics enthusiasts will broaden their knowledge and understanding of diffractive optics phenomena.

The primary objectives of this Field Guide are to familiarize the reader with operational principles and established terminology in the field of diffractive optics, as well as to provide a comprehensive overview of the main types of diffractive optics components. An emphasis is placed on the qualitative explanation of the diffraction phenomena by the use of field distributions and graphs, providing the basis for understanding the fundamental relations and the important trends.

I would like to thank SPIE Press Manager Timothy Lamkins and Series Editor John Grievenkamp for the opportunity to write a field guide for one of the most fundamental physical optics phenomenon, as well as SPIE Press Sr. Editor Dara Burrows for her help.

My endless gratitude goes to my family: to my wife Eleanora, who had to bear additional duties during my work on this guide, as well as to my children, Rose and Michael, who learned the material while helping with proof reading the manuscript.

Yakov G. Soskind
August 2011