Beam splitters based on double-layer rectangular phase gratings

Abstract

Theoretical beam splitting characteristics of double-layer rectangular phase gratings (DLRPGs) are reported. Computer simulation shows that these DLRPGs not only can be used as common beam splitters with higher than 89% diffraction efficiencies and 95% energy distribution uniformities but also exhibit novel splitting properties; one DLRPG can generate a series of beam numbers with 70% diffraction efficiencies by changing in real time the incident angles of a reading beam. This means that a single beam splitter can operate as several common beam splitters.