Polarization-independent wideband mixed metal dielectric reflective gratings

A polarization-independent wideband mixed metal dielectric grating with high efficiency of the -1st order is analyzed and designed in Littrow mounting. The mixed metal dielectric grating consists of a rectangular-groove transmission dielectric grating on the top layer and a highly reflective mirror composed of a connecting layer and a metal film. Simplified modal analysis is carried out, and it shows that when the phase difference accumulated by the two propagating modes is odd multiples of π/2, the diffraction efficiency of the -1st order will be high. Selecting grating depth and duty cycle for satisfying the phase difference condition for both TE (electric field parallel to grooves) and TM (magnetic field parallel to grooves) polarizations, a polarization-independent high-efficiency grating can be designed. Using rigorous coupled-wave analysis and a simulated annealing algorithm, geometric parameters of the reflective grating are exactly obtained. The optimized grating for operation around a wavelength of 800 nm exhibits diffraction efficiencies higher than 90% for both TE and TM polarizations over a 120 nm wavelength bandwidth. The simplified modal analysis can be applied in other types of reflective gratings if the top layer is a dielectric transmission grating.     

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.     

Wide-angle, nonmechanical beam steering with high throughput utilizing polarization gratings

We introduce and demonstrate a ternary nonmechanical beam steering device based on polarization gratings (PGs). Our beam steering device employs multiple stages consisting of combinations of PGs and wave plates, which allows for a unique three-way (ternary) steering design. Ultrahigh efficiency (～100%) and polarization sensitive diffraction of individual PGs allow wide steering angles (among three diffracted orders) with extremely high throughput. We report our successful demonstration of the three-stage beam steerer having a 44° field of regard with 1.7° resolution at 1550 nm wavelength. A substantially high throughput of 78%-83% is observed that is mainly limited by electrode absorption and Fresnel losses.     

Optimal recording wavelength for maximum diffraction efficiency of thermal fixing in LiNbO3:Fe

Optimal recording wavelength for maximum diffraction efficiency of thermal fixing in LiNbO(3):Fe crystal is investigated. Holographic gratings are recorded using three typical recording wavelengths including 488, 514, and 633 nm. Optimal switching from recording to thermal fixing is taken into consideration. The fixed holograms are developed by an original recording setup. Diffraction efficiencies of recording and thermal fixing are measured by a two-wave coupling technique. The theoretical and experimental results are analyzed and compared. With a blue beam, the nonvolatile hologram with maximum fixing efficiency is achieved. This work can obtain high persistent diffraction of the nonvolatile holographic storage in LiNbO(3):Fe crystals.     

Kinoforms designed to produce different fan-out patterns for two wavelengths

Kinoforms (diffractive optical elements) were designed to produce different fan-out (i.e., spot) patterns when illuminated with green (543-nm wavelength) and red (633-nm) light. Three design examples are presented, each using one of three different techniques for this wavelength discrimination. If the fan-out pattern is to be produced in the near field (Fresnel region) of the kinoform, focusing-defocusing distinguishes between the two colors. For a far-field pattern the color distinction can be obtained either by active suppression of unwanted spots, which also decreases the diffraction efficiency, or, preferably, by an increase in the maximum phase modulation of the kinoform (to more than 2pi rad). All three examples were designed with a method based on the full scalar wave equation and optimal-rotation-angle optimization. The designed kinoforms were manufactured and performed, at least qualitatively, as predicted by the design.     

Design of transmission blazed binary gratings for optical limiting with the form-birefringence theory

The structure of transmission blazed binary gratings for optical limiting is designed with the form-birefringence theory. This kind of grating has subwavelength features, can imitate the transmission blazed grating effectively, and has higher efficiencies than a transmission blazed grating with a subwavelength structure. The diffraction efficiencies are calculated and analyzed. For the normal incident light with 10.6 microm wavelength, the transmissivities for the designed grating at 0 degrees deviation angle for TE and TM polarizations are 0.05% and 5.09%, respectively, which are basically identical to the results of the finite-difference time-domain method. The diffraction efficiencies of the first transmitted order for TE and TM polarizations are 93.95% and 83.88%, respectively.     

International Intercomparison of Laser Power Measurements in the Visible Region

In this paper we describe results of the international intercomparison of He-Ne and Ar-ion laser power measurements. The intercomparison measurements were of He-Ne laser power of 3 mW at the wavelength of 633 nm and Ar-ion laser power of 200 mW at 488 nm and 515 nm. The participating laboratories coincided within deviation from the average of 0.6 percent at 633 nm, 0.8 percent at 488 nm, and 0.9 percent at 515 nm.     

Optimization of sawtooth surface-relief gratings: effects of substrate refractive index and polarization

The effect of the refractive index of the substrate together with the incident polarization on the optimization of sawtooth surface-relief gratings (SRGs) is investigated. The global optimum diffraction efficiencies of the -1st forward-diffracted order of sawtooth SRGs are 63.3% occurring at n2=1.47 for TE polarization and 73.8% occurring at n2=2.88 for TM polarization. Incident TE polarization has higher optimum diffraction efficiency than TM polarization for all n2<1.85. In contrast, TM polarization has higher optimum diffraction efficiency than TE polarization for all n2>1.85. A polymer (n2=1.5) optimum sawtooth SRG exhibits 62.6% efficiency for TE polarization. A silicon (n2=3.475) optimum sawtooth SRG exhibits 68.6% efficiency for TM polarization. These sawtooth SRGs are compared to right-angle-face trapezoidal SRGs. It is found that the optimum profiles of right-angle-face trapezoidal SRGs have only very slightly increased efficiencies over sawtooth SRGs (0.04% for TE and 0.55% for TM).     

Broadband and high efficiency metal–multilayer dielectric grating based on non-quarter wave coatings as reflective mirror for 800 nm

A broadband and high efficiency metal–multilayer dielectric grating (MMDG), which was used to compress and stretch an ultra-short laser pulse in a chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) system, was designed. The diffraction characteristics of the MMDG were analyzed using the method of rigorous coupled wave analysis. The reflective mirror used for the broadband and high diffraction grating is made up of non-quarter wave metal–multi-layer dielectric coatings. Taking the diffraction efficiency of the ?1 order as merit function, the parameters such as groove depth, residual thickness and reflective mirror were optimized to obtain broadband and high diffraction efficiency. The optimized MMDG shows an ultra-broadband working spectrum with an average efficiency exceeding 97% over 120?nm wavelength centered at 800?nm and TE polarization. The optimized MMDG should have potential application in CPA systems.     

Limited efficiency of a silver selenogallate optical parametric oscillator caused by two-photon absorption

The nonresonant two-photon absorption (TPA) coefficient in silver selenogallate (AgGaSe(2)) crystals was measured for both ordinary and extraordinary polarizations in the 1300-1600-nm wavelength range. We found a cutoff wavelength for the TPA at between 1400 and 1500 nm, which corresponds to half of the bandgap energy of the AgGaSe(2) crystal. Below the cutoff wavelength we measured the TPA coefficient to be approximately 0.035 cm/MW for the extraordinary polarization and two to three times lower for the ordinary polarization. We compared the AgGaSe(2) samples from two manufacturers and observed a factor of 2 difference in the TPA coefficients. Because of the high TPA, the 1.32-mum pumped AgGaSe(2) optical parametric oscillator conversion efficiency was clipped at a low level.     

Polarization dependence of diffraction gratings that have total internal reflection facets

The total internal reflection (TIR) grating is an integrated optical diffraction grating designed to achieve high efficiency for the retrodiffracted order by use of total internal reflection twice within a groove of the grating rather than by use of metalized grooves. Numerical calculations are presented for both TE and TM polarizations of incident light. When the TIR grating was used in the -mth-order Littrow mount with m > 13, the diffraction efficiency was found to decrease linearly with 1/m. The polarization dependence of the retrodiffraction efficiency exceeds 3 dB for TIR gratings formed in silica glass (n = 1.5) but is very small for gratings with InP-based technology (n = 3.2).     

Narrowband, polarization-independent free-space wave notch filter

A two-dimensional-corrugated-slab-waveguide add/drop filter providing 100% resonant reflection at 1.55 microm wavelength for both TE and TM polarizations with identical FWHM is designed. The fabricated device exhibits a reflectivity spectrum of more than 95% peak reflection for both polarizations at 1.537 microm. The coupling scheme involves the TE0 guided mode only; it is made relatively tolerant by means of a double-sided crossed grating.     

Rigorous theory of the diffraction of Gaussian beams by finite gratings: TM polarization

Diffraction of TM-polarized Gaussian beams by N equally spaced slits (finite grating) in a planar perfectly conducting thick screen is treated. We extend to the TM polarization case the results of a previous paper where the TE polarization was considered. The far-field diffraction patterns, the transmission coefficient tau, and the normally diffracted energy E as a function of several optogeometrical parameters are analyzed within the so-called vectorial region. The existence of constant-intensity angles in the far field when the incident beam wave is scanned along the N slits is shown. In addition, the property E=Ntau/lambda, valid in the scalar region, is extended to the TM polarization case in the vectorial region, lambda being the wavelength. The coupling between slits is analyzed, giving an oscillating amplitude-decreasing function as the separation between slits increases, where the period for these oscillations is the wavelength lambda. Finally, the extraordinary optical transmission phenomena that appear when the wavelength is larger than the slit width (subwavelength regime) are analyzed.     

Image storage based on circular-polarization holography in an azobenzene side-chain liquid-crystalline polymer

Image storage was investigated in a liquid-crystalline azobenzene polymer film based on circular-polarization holographic recording. An image was stored in pure polarization holograms using two orthogonal circularly polarized 532 nm beams and was reconstructed with a 633 nm beam. The polarization holograms showed high stability and a high diffraction efficiency of 31.8%. Moreover, the polarization holograms could convert arbitrary probe polarization state into circular polarization, and the diffraction efficiency was dependent on the probe polarization state, which was favorable for controlling the reconstructed images.     

Photoinduced circular anisotropy in side-chain azobenzene polyesters

We report for the first time the inducing of large circular anisotropy in previously unoriented films of side-chain azobenzene polyesters on illumination with circularly polarized light at a wavelength of 488 nm. The circular dichroism and optical activity are measured simultaneously in real time at two wavelengths, 488 nm and 633 nm. The photoinduced optical activity has been measured to be 10⁴ deg/cm and the circular dichroism has been found to be on the order of 0.3.     

Polarizing color filter based on a subwavelength metal-dielectric grating

We propose a polarizing color filter based on a one-dimensional subwavelength metal-dielectric grating combining the functions of a polarizer and a color filter. The proposed device consists of three parts: a substrate, a dielectric grating, and a metal grating. The effects of the dielectric grating and the metal grating are investigated in detail by rigorous coupled-wave analysis. Performance is enhanced effectively by utilizing a dielectric grating of high equivalent refractive index. Typical optimized structural parameters are obtained, in which more than 72.6% broadband transmission with >21 dB polarization extinction ratio are simultaneously achieved for a tricolor filter. For transverse electric (TE) polarized light, its reflection efficiency is more than 71.8% in the broad passband light range, which can be recycled by rotating the TE polarization in part into transverse magnetic polarization and reimpinging on the designed device to increase the total energy efficiency. Numerical results show that peak transmission efficiency (PTE) is increased by at least 12.9% using recycled TE-polarized light.     

Electooptic Fresnel lens-scanner with an array of channel waveguides

A new type of beam scanner is discussed based on a 1-D Fresnel zone plate consisting of titanium-diffused channel waveguides on LiNbO3. By electrooptically controlling the guided-wave phase, both beam scanning and 1-D focusing are achieved without a condensing lens. It was experimentally confirmed using the scanner with twenty-one Fresnel zones that the beam spot with a diameter of approximately 50 microm at half-power level of diffraction pattern is scanned over a distance of +/-70 microm in the focal plane with an applied voltage of +/-40 V at 633 nm.     

Passively Q-switched Nd:YVO4 waveguide laser using graphene as a saturable absorber

We report on passively Q-switched lasers in femtosecond laser written waveguide in Nd:YVO₄ crystal. Using graphene as a saturable absorber, passively Q-switched waveguide laser operations are achieved along both TE and TM polarizations with single modal profiles. Furthermore, all-angle linear light pump was utilized to investigate the thorough information of the polarization effects of the laser, showing that the optimum polarization for laser generation is TE. The maximum average output power is estimated to be 129 mW with 12.2% slope efficiency, corresponding to single-pulse energy of 8.1 nJ, pulse duration of 25.0 ns and repetition rate of 16.3 MHz.     

High-efficiency reflective diffraction gratings in fused silica as (de)multiplexers at 1.55microm for dense wavelength division multiplexing application

We describe high-efficiency, high-dispersion reflection gratings fabricated in bulk fused silica illuminated by incident lights in the C + L bands as (de)multiplexers for dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) application. Based on the phenomenon of total internal reflection, gratings with optimized profile parameters exhibit diffraction efficiencies of more than 90% under TM- and TE-polarized incident lights for 101-nm spectral bandwidths (1520-1620 nm) and can reach an efficiency of greater than 97% for both polarizations at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Without loss of metal absorption, without coating of dielectric film layers, and independent of tooth shape, this new kind of grating should be of great interest for DWDM application.     

Periodic defects in 2D-PBG materials: full-wave analysis and design

In this paper, an accurate and efficient characterization of two-dimensional photonic bandgap structures with periodic defects is performed, which exploits a full-wave diffraction theory developed for one-dimensional gratings. The high convergence rate of the proposed technique is demonstrated. Results are presented for both TE and TM polarizations, showing the efficiencies as a function of wavelength, incidence angle, geometrical and physical parameters. A comparison with other theoretical results reported in the literature is shown with a good agreement. The transmission properties of photonic crystals with periodic defects are studied, investigating the effects of the variation of geometrical and physical parameters; design efficiency maps and formulas are given; moreover, the application of the analyzed structures as filters is discussed.