Subwavelength surface-relief gratings for stellar coronagraphy

We present a new design of a phase mask coronagraph implemented with subwavelength diffractive optical elements consisting of optimized surface-relief gratings. Phase mask coronagraphy is a recent technique that seeks to accommodate both high dynamic and high angular resolution imaging of faint sources around bright astrophysical objects such as exoplanets orbiting their host stars. The original design we propose is a new, integrated, and flexible solution to the pi phase-shift chromaticity of the phase mask coronagraphs. It will allow broadband observations, i.e., shorter integration times and object characterizations, by means of spectroscopic analysis. The feasibility of the component manufacturing is also considered through a tolerance study.     

Optimum parallel-face slanted surface-relief gratings

Using a combination of rigorous coupled-wave analysis and simulated annealing, parallel-face slanted surface-relief gratings (PFSSRGs) are optimized. For substrate-mode optical interconnects, profiles are presented for both polymer and silicon PFSSRGs for both TE and TM polarizations at normal incidence with grating periods designed to give a 45 degrees output angle in the negative-first forward-diffracted order. The resulting diffraction efficiencies range from 70% to 99%, with a majority of the optimized profiles yielding over 90%. Optimized polymer profiles for TE and TM polarizations exhibit similar high diffraction efficiencies, but the TM profiles generally require greater groove depths. Silicon profiles optimized for TM polarization have greater diffraction efficiencies than those for TE polarization. Profiles that can feasibly be fabricated are identified, and sensitivities to groove depth, filling factor, slant angle, and incident angle are shown to be modest.     

Efficient generation of large diffraction gratings with a grating interferometer

The advantages of a grating interferometer for the generation of large diffraction gratings are demonstrated. In a one- and a two-stage process, high-quality gratings of 120 and 200 mm, respectively, were made with optics no larger than 50 mm together with an argon-ion laser with no line narrowing or beam stabilization and a rotating diffuser for improved beam uniformity.     

Antireflective grating in the resonance domain for displays

An antireflective periodic structure different from the moth-eye structure is proposed in a resonance domain whose period is greater than the wavelength of incident light. Using rigorous coupled-wave analysis in the TE mode, a reflectivity of less than 0.2% is performed in a period larger than the wavelength, when an aspect ratio is unity. Changes in diffraction efficiency and transmissivity are small at different wavelengths. This is explained by a newly derived equation based on the vector theory.     

Polarization analysis of surface-relief D-fiber Bragg gratings

Surface-relief fiber Bragg gratings exhibit substantially more polarization dependence than standard fiber Bragg gratings. Using D-fiber with different core orientations, surface-relief gratings are analyzed and fabricated to determine the polarization dependence. We show that the largest Bragg reflection occurs for the polarization state with a dominant TE field component parallel to the flat surface of the fiber. The polarization dependence is adjusted by changing the index of refraction of the surrounding media and by fabricating the surface relief grating using rotated core D-fiber.     

Finite-difference-time-domain analysis of finite-number-of-periods holographic and surface-relief gratings

The total-field-scattered-field formulation of the finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD) is used to analyze the diffraction of finite incident beams by finite-number-of-periods holographic and surface-relief gratings. Both second-order and fourth-order FDTD formulations are used with various averaging schemes to treat permittivity discontinuities and a comparative study is made with alternative numerical methods. The diffraction efficiencies for gratings of several periods and various beam sizes, for both TE and TM polarization cases, are calculated and the FDTD results are compared with the finite-difference frequency-domain (FDFD) method results in the case of holographic gratings, and with the boundary element method results in the case of surface-relief gratings. Furthermore, the convergence of the FDTD results to the rigorous coupled-wave analysis results is investigated as the number of grating periods and the incident beam size increase.     

Rectangular surface-relief transmission gratings with a very large first-order diffraction efficiency (~95%) for unpolarized light

Computer optimization shows that the first-order diffraction efficiency of a lossless-transmission surface-relief grating with a rectangular surface profile can be made very large (~95%) simultaneously for light of TE and TM polarizations incident near the Bragg angle by the proper choice of the fill factor. The case for visible light incident close to the Bragg angle on unslanted gratings with periodicities corresponding to Bragg angles of 30 degrees , 37.5 degrees , and 45 degrees is presented. The refractive index of the grating material was chosen in the range between 1.2 and 2.     

Effective diffraction gratings via acidic etching of thermally poled glass

Relief diffraction gratings are formed via acidic chemical etching of a periodically poled soda-lime glass. The thermal poling under 1000 V DC is performed at 325 °C using a thermally stable glassy-carbon anodic electrode with periodic grooves, the depth of the grooves being of ∼650 nm. Poling-induced modification of the glass results in deepening the glass anodic surface in the regions under the ribs of the anodic electrode due to volume relaxation and in increasing chemical durability of these regions in acidic media comparatively to the virgin glass. Chemical etching of the poled glass in NH₄F:8H₂O solution allows additional to the thermal poling shaping of the glass surface via faster dissolution of unpoled/less poled glass regions. The morphology of the glass surface before and after the etching is characterized with atomic force and scanning electron microscopy. About 30 min etching provides the formation of ∼0.9 μm in height relief diffraction gratings with the diffraction efficiency close to the theoretically achievable ∼30% for multi-order diffraction. In vivo measuring of the diffraction efficiency in the course of the etching allows precise fabrication of the gratings.     

Effective schema for the rigorous modeling of grating diffraction with focused beams

Most modal diffraction methods are formulated for incident plane waves. In practical applications, the probing beam is focused. Usually, this is simulated by means of numerical integration where Gaussian quadrature formulas are most effective. These formulas require smooth integrands, which is not fulfilled for gratings due to Rayleigh singularities and physical resonances. The violation of this condition entails inaccurate integration results, such as kinks and other artifacts. In this paper, a methodology for the efficient treatment of the numerical integration with improved accuracy is presented. It is based on the subdivision of the aperture along the lines of Rayleigh singularities, mapping of these subapertures into unit squares, and separate application of the Gaussian cubature formulas for each subarea.     

Optimization of anisotropically etched silicon surface-relief gratings for substrate-mode optical interconnects

The optimum profiles of right-angle-face anisotropically etched silicon surface-relief gratings illuminated at normal incidence for substrate-mode optical interconnects are determined for TE, TM, and random linear (RL) polarizations. A simulated annealing algorithm in conjunction with the rigorous coupled-wave analysis is used. The optimum diffraction efficiencies of the -1 forward-diffracted order are 37.3%, 67.1%, and 51.2% for TE-, TM-, and RL-polarization-optimized profiles, respectively. Also, the sensitivities to grating thickness, slant angle, and incident angle of the optimized profiles are presented.     

Surface plasmon resonance enhanced transmission of light through gold-coated diffraction gratings

Narrow peaks are observed in the transmission spectra of p-polarized light passing through a thin gold film that is coated on the surface of a transparent diffraction grating. The spectral position and intensity of these peaks can be tuned over a wide range of wavelengths by simple rotation of the grating. The wavelengths where these transmission peaks are observed correspond to conditions where surface plasmon resonance occurs at the gold-air interface. Light diffracted by the grating couples with surface plasmons in the metal film to satisfy the resonant condition, resulting in enhanced light transmission through the film. Notably, this phenomenon is not observed at flat, gold-coated surfaces or uncoated gratings, where coupling to surface plasmons does not occur. The nature of the coupling and, thus, the details of light transmission are governed by the momentum matching conditions between the diffracted light and the surface plasmons. In the presence of bound analytes or surface films, the enhanced transmission peaks are red-shifted, making a simple, yet highly responsive sensing platform. The utility of this platform is demonstrated for ex situ sensing by analyzing thin films of various thicknesses and detecting a model immunoreaction between bovine serum albumin and anti-bovine serum albumin. This grating-based transmission surface plasmonic device represents a simple and sensitive platform, which can be readily tuned to enhance performance and be used in the study of a variety of surface adsorption processes or analysis of biomolecular interactions.     

Grating coupler dispersion compensation with a surface-relief reflection grating

Experimental results are presented that show that diffraction off a surface-relief reflection grating can be used to extend the FWHM input coupling efficiency versus the coupled-light wavelength of a grating coupler from 0.7 to 17 nm. Use of a surface-relief reflection grating allows high diffraction efficiency over a wide wavelength range. Dispersion-matching calculations are included that illustrate that for certain output coupling applications the FWHM can be extended to 33 am. Analysis shows that for inputcoupling applications the lateral beam shift resulting from angular dispersion may be the limiting factor for wavelength compensation.     

Holographic imaging and interferometry with non-Bragg diffraction orders on volume and surface-relief gratings in lithium niobate and photo-thermoplastic materials

The recording of holographic volume and surface-relief gratings in a photorefractive crystal using a photo-thermoplastic (PTP) holographic camera with an image-bearing signal beam leads to the appearance of two Bragg and two or more non-Bragg diffracted beams that show the transformed images in each beam (rotation and angular amplification of images). Using this real-time mode of interferometry, the hologram is retrieved with a deformed object beam, resulting in the appearance of fringes with a proper phase shift in each of four diffracted beams. This one-shot (one-exposure) phase-shifting interferometry results in clarification of the object wave-front information (for example, from surface deformation) and solution of the sign ambiguity problem. This procedure demonstrates that high-resolution holographic imaging of the PTP holographic camera static deformations in the order of ～0.1?mm can be revealed on the diffusion reflection surface. In addition, it was demonstrated that using the PTP materials could achieve holographic recording and imaging through phase aberration, with the image appearing in the non-Bragg diffraction order.     

Reformulation of the fourier modal method for surface-relief gratings made with anisotropic materials

Abstract

By the use of the correct Fourier factorization rules presented in an earlier paper by Li the Fourier modal method (FMM) for anisotropic surface-relief gratings is reformulated. The newly formulated FMM converges much faster than the old formulation when the permittivity contrast in the grating groove region is large. Highly conducting lamellar gratings coated with anisotropic materials can now be analysed easily. In addition, a simple set of criteria are given for determining the energy propagation directions of the plane waves associated with the real solutions of the Booker quartic.     

Subwavelength surface-relief gratings fabricated by microcontact printing of self-assembled monolayers

We have designed and tested subwavelength diffractive optical elements consisting of surface-relief gratings made by microcontact printing of self-assembled monolayers. The first device is a beam deflector for 1.55-mum operation consisting of a surface-relief grating made up of eight pillars over one period (9.3 mum) of the grating. The widths of the pillars vary to approximate a linear phase profile within each grating period. The second device is a quarter-wave plate for 632.8-nm operation consisting of a subwavelength surface-relief grating with a 300-nm period and 58% duty cycle.