Beam-width-dependent filtering properties of strong volume holographic gratings

The finite dimension of the incident beam used to read out volume holographic gratings has interesting effects on their filtering properties. As the readout beam gets narrower, there is more deviation from the ideal response predicted for monochromatic plane waves. In this paper we experimentally explore beam-width-dependent phenomena such as wavelength selectivities, angular selectivities, and diffracted beam profiles. Volume gratings in both reflection and transmission geometries are investigated near 1550 nm. Numerical simulations utilizing the technique of Fourier decomposition provide a satisfactory explanation and confirm that the spread of spatial harmonics is the main contributing factor.     

Dispersive resonators with volume holographic gratings

A dispersive resonator with volume holographic phase gratings for a tunable laser is described. The experimental results showed advantages of these resonators over the analogous devices using blaze-angle reflection relief gratings.     

Effects of anisotropic diffractions on holographic polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal gratings

Volume gratings fabricated by interferometric exposure using composite materials composed of nematic liquid crystals (LC) and LC diacrylate monomers are discussed in the effects of diffraction properties on different grating formations, such as varying LC content ratios, film thicknesses, and the surface conditions composed of alignment layers and rubbing directions. Diffraction properties are experimentally investigated in the viewpoints of anisotropic diffraction and LC orientation. The polarization-azimuth dependence of diffraction efficiencies as functions of the incident polarization states shows the controllability of anisotropic diffractions based on the effects of different surface conditions.     

Three-dimensional coupled wave study for finite-sized anisotropic volume holographic gratings under ultrashort pulsed beam readout

The three-dimensional coupled wave theory is extended to systematically investigate the diffraction properties of finite-sized anisotropic volume holographic gratings (VHGs) under ultrashort pulsed beam (UPB) readout. The effects of the grating geometrical size and the polarizations of the recording and readout beams on the diffraction properties are presented, in particular under the influence of grating material dispersion. The wavelength selectivity of the finite-sized VHG is analyzed. The wavelength selectivity determines the intensity distributions of the transmitted and diffracted pulsed beams along the output face of the VHG. The distortion and widening of the diffracted pulsed beams are different for different points on the output face, as is numerically shown for a VHG recorded in a LiNbO3 crystal. The beam quality is analyzed, and the variations of the total diffraction efficiency are shown in relation to the geometrical size of the grating and the temporal width of the readout UPB. In addition, the diffraction properties of the finite-sized and one-dimensional VHG for pulsed and continuous-wave readout are compared. The study shows the potential application of VHGs in controlling spatial and temporal features of UPBs simultaneously.     

Diffraction properties of volume holographic gratings for an ultrashort pulsed beam with different polarization states readout

The diffraction properties of volume holographic gratings are studied when the gratings are illuminated by an ultrashort pulsed beam with different polarization states. The developed coupled wave theory of Kogelnik is used. Considering the dispersion effect of the grating media, solutions for the diffracted and transmitted intensities, diffraction efficiencies and the bandwidths of the gratings are given in transmission volume holographic gratings and reflection volume holographic gratings. The bandwidths of the gratings are reduced by the dispersion effect of the grating media. They also have different influences on the diffraction of an ultrashort pulsed beam with different polarization states. For different values of the ratio of the spectral bandwidth of the input pulse to that of the grating, the changes of the spectral and temporal distributions of the diffracted intensities, as well as the diffraction efficiencies of the gratings are shown.     

Modeling and design of planar slanted volume holographic gratings for wavelength-division-multiplexing applications

Holographic gratings are modeled and designed for path-reversed substrate-guided-wave wavelength-division demultiplexing (WDDM) as a continuation of earlier research [Appl. Opt. 38, 3046 (1999)]. An efficient and practical method is developed to simulate the slanted volume holographic gratings. The trade-off between dispersion and the bandwidth of the holograms is analyzed. A 60 degrees (incident angle of the grating)/60 degrees (diffraction angle of the grating in air) grating structure is selected to demultiplex optical signals in the 1555-nm spectral region, and a 45 degrees /45 degrees grating structure is chosen for the spectral region near 800 nm. Experimental results are consistent with the simulation results for these two WDDM devices. A four-channel WDDM is also demonstrated at a center wavelength of 1555 nm and with a channel spacing of 2 nm.     

Applications of holographic gratings to two-dimensional spectroscopy

Calculations are presented for a set of aberration-corrected holographic concave gratings for possible use in space mission instruments. It is concluded that, for the visible range 0.26-1.02 μm when detectors with a 15-μm pixel size are used, a total field of view of ～1° is possible at an aperture of ?/7.0. For the infrared regions 0.9-2.5 μm and 2.4-4.2 μm, in which detector arrays have larger pixel sizes of 30-40 μm, a spatial field of view of ～2° at ?/7.0 and ～1.0° at ?/3.5 can be achieved. An exploration of spectrum lengths showed that performance starts to fall off sharply for lengths over 15 mm at a focal length of 150 mm (i.e., a spectral angular extent of～6°).     

Fourier analysis of high-spatial-frequency holographic phase gratings

Plane-wave holograms were recorded on Agfa–Gevaert 8E75HD holographic plates, in a wide range of bias exposures and fringe visibilities. Plates were processed by developer AAC and bleaching agent R-9. Phase gratings were studied by phase-contrast microscopy, using a high-power immersion (100×) objective. Phase-contrast photomicrographs were Fourier analysed. Thus first-, second- and third-order modulations of the refractive index as functions of bias exposure and visibility of the recording interference pattern could be determined. Relative amplitudes of the higher-order modulations to that of the first-order modulation can serve as a measure of the nonlinearity of the holographic recording. The results presented here can be used to check the validity of grating profile calculations based on higher-order coupled-wave theory.     

Design of cascaded volume holographic gratings to increase the number of channels for an optical demultiplexer

The design and demonstration of a holographic optical demultiplexer based on cascaded volume holographic gratings are presented. By serially adding a second holographic grating, which has a different grating period, slant angle, and center wavelength compared with those of the first grating, the operating wavelength range of the optical demultiplexer could be expanded, and, therefore, the number of channels of the holographic demultiplexer is doubled. As a result of the experiment, a 0.4 nm spaced 130- channel demultiplexer with a channel uniformity of 3.5 dB, a 3 dB bandwidth of 0.12 nm, and channel cross talk of -20 dB is experimentally achieved.     

Temperature dependence properties of holographic gratings in phenanthrenquinone doped poly(methyl methacrylate) photopolymers

We examine the temperature dependence of edge-illuminated holographic filters formed in phenanthrenquinone doped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PQ/PMMA) operating at 1550 nm. It was found that the thermally induced change to the refractive index and volume can be used to select the wavelength filtered by the grating. The temperature can be varied over a range of 15 degrees C without introducing noticeable hysteresis effects. The wavelength can be tuned at a rate of 0.03 nm/degrees C over this temperature range. A model for the temperature tuning effect is presented and compared to experimental results.     

新型体全息窄带滤光器的光学特性研究

用紫外/可见分光光度计测定由DCG记录的透射式体全息窄带带阻滤光器的光谱特性,分析其滤波特性。测量结果分析表明,滤光器有较窄的带宽,其半宽度小于13nm,1/10宽度小于19nm。在400-800nm可见光区域,对其主谱线的相对透过率小于2%,其它谱线的相对透过率大于85%。对半导体泵浦激光器主谱线532.0nm有优良的滤光特性。     

Deformation of the modulation profile in phase holographic gratings

Among all the parameters that characterize a phase grating, the most difficult to control is the modulation profile of the refractive index. In fact, it covers many scalar parameters that are the Fourier coefficients of the profile. To study the influence of processing baths on the modulation profile, in phase holographic gratings made of dichromated gelatin, we have observed that the shape of the profiles obtained sometimes presents a slight concavity or a convexity in the middle, leading to an increase or a decrease in the diffraction efficiency. We present the experimental results and a numerical study in the form of a theoretical prediction, which confirms the experimental observations.     

High-dispersion spherical holographic gratings in a modified rowland mounting

For holographic gratings requiring an extreme dispersion, I consider a modified Rowland mounting, in which the recording laser sources are moved away from the grating, to reduce the uncorrected higher-order aberrations. In addition, I choose the geometric parameters such that first-type coma is corrected. Then a plane multimode deformable mirror (MDM) or two auxiliary spherical holographic gratings (R3 device) are used to aberrate the grating's recording sources; correction up to the fourth order is sufficient to obtain high image quality. Applied to the FUSE-Lyman (FUSE is Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer) grating, with a groove density as high as 5767 grooves/mm, these recording devices produce a resolution (chromatic resolving power) as great as 611,000 with the MDM and 3,030,000 with the R3 device. These results far exceed the specified performance of 30,000. Since diffraction limits the resolution to 482,000, the images are diffraction limited with both devices.     

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.     

Thermally assisted recording of holographic gratings in semicrystalline azobenzene-containing polymers

We examine optically induced birefringence in semicrystalline azopolymer films that are held at glass-transition temperature Tg. The birefringence increases markedly after interception of the pump beam; the saturation value depends on exposure time. In addition, the induced birefringence is completely erased by irradiation with a circularly polarized beam at Tg. Using this thermally assisted method, we demonstrate the holographic recording of a test image. The intensity of the diffracted beam also increases after interception of the writing beams. Furthermore, the retrieved image is found to have a resolution of approximately 30 lp/mm. This resolution is comparable with that of the optical setup that is used. Accordingly, the thermally assisted recording by use of semicrystalline azopolymers is a promising method for reversible holographic storage.     

Thermal fixing of holographic gratings in BaTiO(3)

Fixing of a holographic grating in a single BaTiO(3) crystal is studied in detail by means of a thermal process. Above T = 78 °C, oscillations of the diffracted intensity of the sample appear, which are related to the fixing process. Different methods to perform and optimize the fixing process are described. A fixed diffraction efficiency of ~25% was obtained. Self-enhanced as well as self-depleted diffraction from the fixed photorefractive gratings was observed.     

Multiplexed holographic transmission gratings recorded in holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals: static and dynamic studies

The optimization of the experimental parameters of two multiplexed holographic transmission gratings recorded in holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals is investigated. Two methods are used to record the holograms: simultaneous and sequential multiplexing. These two processes are optimized to produce two multiplexed Bragg gratings that have the same and the highest possible diffraction efficiencies in the first order. The two methods show similar results when suitable recording parameters are used. The parameters of the recorded gratings (mainly the refractive-index modulation) are retrieved by use of an extension of the rigorous coupled-wave theory to multiplexed gratings. Finally, the response of the holograms to an electric field is studied. We demonstrate few coupling effects between the behavior of both gratings, and we expect a possibility of switching from one grating to the other.     

Spatial-frequency response of holographic gratings photodeposited from inorganic colloids

Surface photodeposition is a photon-assisted process by which thin films are formed on substrates immersed in colloid solutions. We experimentally evaluate the resolution capabilities of the photodeposition process with amorphous selenium colloids by recording holographic gratings at different spatial frequencies, up to 2200 lines/mm. The experimental diffraction efficiencies are analyzed in terms of a theoretical model, which relates the spatial-frequency response to optical recording parameters and colloid particle sizes. The maximal experimental diffraction efficiency reaches 13% with a spatial frequency of f = 1100 lines/mm. The diffraction efficiencies decrease monotonically with spatial frequency, and drop to half of the maximal diffraction efficiency at f ≈ 1500 lines/mm. These resolution capabilities are achieved with colloid particle sizes extending up to 80 nm. The theoretical derivation indicates that to obtain spatial frequencies above 3000 lines/mm, one should restrict the colloid particle size to a(max) ≤ 30 nm.