Diffraction Efficiency Of Gratings Research Articles

A Polarization‐Insensitive and Adaptively‐Blazed Meta‐Grating Based on Dispersive Metasurfaces

AbstractThe diffraction efficiency of blaze gratings is optimized only at a specific frequency due to a fixed blaze angle, resulting in reduced and variable diffraction efficiencies over the working frequency band. Additionally, blazed gratings demonstrate polarization dependence due to their groove structures and the interaction of light with their surfaces. Consequently, designing gratings with constant diffraction efficiencies across a wide frequency bandwidth while maintaining polarization independence remains a challenge. Here, a design paradigm of dispersion engineerable meta‐grating inspired by orthogonal harmonic oscillations (OHO) is presented. Utilizing the OHO model, the phase dispersion of a metasurface can be precisely controlled, which applies to any unit cell featuring two orthogonal electromagnetic resonances. As a proof of concept, a polarization‐insensitive meta‐grating is showcased, where the blazed angle adapts with the incident frequency, ensuring broadband performance. In the experiment, the adaptively‐blazed grating measured an optimized and constant diffraction efficiency of ≈80% over the working wavelength range, i.e., 8.7–12.2 µm. The difference in diffraction efficiency between the two perpendicular linear polarization states remains within 4.6%. The proposed paradigm paves the way for meta‐device design based on precise dispersion engineering, which has potential applications in spectrometers, broadband beam forming and steering, hyperspectral imaging, etc.

Hydrogel Grating Sensors with Boron Affinity and Molecular Imprinting Effects for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Tumor Marker Sialic Acid.

Rapid and sensitive detection of the concentration of sialic acid (SA) in serum is crucial for early tumor screening and prognostic assessment; however, it still remains challenging. Here, we propose a novel kind of hydrogel grating sensor with boron affinity and molecular imprinting effects (B-MIP) for the rapid and sensitive detection of SA concentration in serum. The hydrogel gratings feature uniform surface relief microstructures and incorporate highly specific recognition binding sites into SA molecules provided by boron affinity and molecular imprinting. The periodic nanoridges of hydrogel gratings increase the specific surface area contacting the environmental solution; therefore, fast detection can be achieved within 2 min. Upon recognition of SA molecules, the height of hydrogel gratings changes at the nanoscale, causing a change in the diffraction efficiency of the hydrogel gratings. The B-MIP hydrogel grating sensors have highly specific binding sites to SA molecules distributed throughout the whole hydrogel and can preferentially and selectively recognize and respond to the SA molecules even in the presence of interference substances glucose and fructose with high concentrations. The B-MIP hydrogel grating sensors are effectively applicable for the rapid and sensitive detection of SA concentrations in real serum samples with satisfactory accuracy and precision. Our approach provides an excellent strategy to address the current challenges in SA detection and provides new insights into the detection of tumor markers in serum, thereby opening up new ways to accurately detect complex biological samples in analytical science.

High-speed measurement method for diffraction efficiency of gratings in broad range wavelength based on AOTF

High-speed measurement method for diffraction efficiency of gratings in broad range wavelength based on AOTF

Optically accessible gas exposure apparatus for testing and characterization of holographic gas sensors

Holographic gas sensors are of great interest due to their widespread applicability and potential for high sensitivity, fast response, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and compact and lightweight nature. For effective design and development of holographic gas sensors, it is essential to have a reliable and safe gas exposure system allowing for optical access for testing purposes. Here, the design and operation of a custom gas exposure apparatus for the performance evaluation of holographic grating-based gas sensors within a research laboratory setting is presented. The apparatus enables the real-time measurement of analyte-induced changes in key holographic grating parameters: grating diffraction efficiency and reconstruction wavelength. A demonstration of the capabilities of the optically accessible apparatus to evaluate sensor response time, sensitivity to different volatile organic compound analytes, and response to cyclical gas exposure is presented. The AutoCAD designs, as well as the material and equipment specifications for the custom apparatus, are provided to facilitate reproduction of the gas development and gas exposure setup.

Temperature dependence of the diffraction efficiency of circular polarization gratings made by liquid crystal molecules with anisotropic absorption

Since liquid crystal molecules exhibit anisotropic absorption in the infrared region, there is concern about changes in the diffraction properties of polarization gratings (PGs) made of liquid crystals. In this study, we investigated the theory of the diffraction efficiency of the circular PGs with circularly polarized diffraction characteristics when they have anisotropic absorption. We found that the separation function of the circularly polarized light was maintained even in the presence of anisotropic absorption. The usefulness of this theory was discussed with experimental results of the temperature dependence of the diffraction efficiency of a circular PG at 10.2 μm.

Feasibility of a localized mode analysis method in an SOI platform based on carrier grating

In order to measure the intensity of modes that are transmitted inside the devices on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform, researchers usually use pre-processed couplers to make the optical modes diffract out of the chip. However, the output couplers have an influence (e.g., attenuation and wavelength selectivity) on the modes of concern. Besides, as the quantity and variety of devices integrated into the SOI platform continue to escalate, the traditional method also shows limits on detecting devices far from the chip edge. So, is it feasible to directly and locally measure one specific mode’s intensity on some waveguide-based devices like the directional coupler, polarization beam splitter, and so on. Interference of two coherent pump beams has the capability to induce a periodic carrier distribution in the material, thus modulating the refractive index, effectively creating a temporary and erasable diffraction grating. In this study, an off-chip, non-destructive, and localized detection method based on carrier grating is proposed. A theoretical model is developed to calculate carrier dynamics under various pump configurations. Leveraging the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method and accounting for free carrier index (FCI) and free carrier absorption (FCA) effects, analysis of the quantitative impact of pump intensity and radius on the diffraction efficiency of the carrier grating in the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform and its far-field divergence characteristics is provided. Ultimately, this research contributes to a discussion on several commonly used application scenarios and the feasibility of experimental approaches. A spatial resolution of less than 10 µm and a diffraction efficiency of −15dB while simultaneously maintaining a far-field divergence of 7.8° for the SOI platform are proposed at the end of this article.

P‐4.19: Tuning the Diffraction Efficiency of Polarization Volume Grating by UV Erosion

P‐4.19: Tuning the Diffraction Efficiency of Polarization Volume Grating by UV Erosion

The Diffraction Efficiency of Acrylate-Based Holographically Photopolymerized Gratings Enhanced by the Dark Reaction

Photopolymers, especially acrylate-based ones with low cost and simple preparation, are promising materials for high-efficiency holographic gratings. However, it is still challenging to achieve high-performance gratings, due to the influences of many factors. In this work, we found that the dark reaction plays a critical role. The effect of the dark reaction on the optical properties of holographic gratings was investigated. Experimental results reveal that the diffraction efficiency of the gratings can be improved by a factor of three by involving the dark reaction process, and the highest diffraction efficiency for gratings can reach 97.8% after optimization. Therefore, the dark reaction can greatly enhance the optical performance of acrylate-based holographic gratings and other optical elements, thus holding great potential for many applications.

Theoretical efficiency limit of diffractive input couplers in augmented reality waveguides.

Considerable efforts have been devoted to augmented reality (AR) displays to enable the immersive user experience in the wearable glasses form factor. Transparent waveguide combiners offer a compact solution to guide light from the microdisplay to the front of eyes while maintaining the see-through optical path to view the real world simultaneously. To deliver a realistic virtual image with low power consumption, the waveguide combiners need to have high efficiency and good image quality. One important limiting factor for the efficiency of diffractive waveguide combiners is the out-coupling problem in the input couplers, where the guided light interacts with the input gratings again and get partially out-coupled. In this study, we introduce a theoretical model to deterministically find the upper bound of the input efficiency of a uniform input grating, constrained only by Lorentz reciprocity and energy conservation. Our model considers the polarization management at the input coupler and can work for arbitrary input polarization state ensemble. Our model also provides the corresponding characteristics of the input coupler, such as the grating diffraction efficiencies and the Jones matrix of the polarization management components, to achieve the optimal input efficiency. Equipped with this theoretical model, we investigate how the upper bound of input efficiency varies with geometric parameters including the waveguide thickness, the projector pupil size, and the projector pupil relief distance. Our study shines light on the fundamental efficiency limit of input couplers in diffractive waveguide combiners and highlights the benefits of polarization control in improving the input efficiency.

A Study on Length Traceability and Diffraction Efficiency of Chromium Gratings

Measurement traceability is a prerequisite for achieving accurate and reliable results as well as technical standardization. The period of Chromium (Cr) gratings fabricated by atomic lithography can be directly traced back to natural constants. Applying the Cr grating to grating interferometry can achieve nanometer measurement traceability. This research aims to analyze the diffraction efficiency characteristics of self-traceable Cr gratings to provide a theoretical basis for the fabrication and application of Cr gratings. In this regard, we establish the theoretical model of the laser beam incident angle and grating diffraction efficiency using the rigorous coupled-wave method. Then, we analyze the influence of the laser beam incident angle on grating diffraction efficiency by simulation, verify the accuracy of the theoretical model, and finally build a measurement system for grating diffraction efficiency. Through experiments, we find that the diffraction efficiency of the grating shows a rapid increase to reach a stable maximum value followed by a decrease, when a laser beam with a wavelength of 405 nm is incident on the surface of a self-traceable grating in Transverse Magnetic (TM) polarization and the incident angle changes within an effective range. The experimental results are consistent with the trend of theoretical calculation results.

Surface relief coupled grating design for near-eye display

As the most important optical component in a near-eye display system, the performance of a coupling grating directly determines the imaging quality of the final display system. In order to improve the diffraction efficiency and field of view (FOV) of the coupling device, this study proposes a novel surface relief coupling grating. The structural parameters of the surface relief coupled grating are simulated and calculated by using the finite-element analysis method. The simulation results show that the diffraction efficiency of the coupling grating can reach more than 99.5%. Compared with the traditional rectangular tilted grating, the diffraction efficiency has increased by 6.4%, and the full width at half-maximum of the incident angle has increased by 4°, which proves that the structure has higher diffraction efficiency and a larger FOV. Furthermore, the surface relief coupling grating is insensitive to operating conditions and processing errors, fully meeting the processability requirements. Therefore, this new type of surface relief coupling grating can replace traditional coupling gratings and is expected to become a key coupling component in the next generation of near-eye display systems.

Optimal binary gratings for multi-wavelength magneto-optical traps.

Grating magneto-optical traps are an enabling quantum technology for portable metrological devices with ultracold atoms. However, beam diffraction efficiency and angle are affected by wavelength, creating a single-optic design challenge for laser cooling in two stages at two distinct wavelengths - as commonly used for loading, e.g., Sr or Yb atoms into optical lattice or tweezer clocks. Here, we optically characterize a wide variety of binary gratings at different wavelengths to find a simple empirical fit to experimental grating diffraction efficiency data in terms of dimensionless etch depth and period for various duty cycles. The model avoids complex 3D light-grating surface calculations, yet still yields results accurate to a few percent across a broad range of parameters. Gratings optimized for two (or more) wavelengths can now be designed in an informed manner suitable for a wide class of atomic species enabling advanced quantum technologies.

Quad-channel waveguide-based near-eye display for metaverse

We present a quad-channel waveguide-based near-eye display as an ultra-wide-angle architecture for the metaverse. The core concept is to divide one field of view into four by placing the couplers within the regions, where only the subsets of field of view are located. Compared to its counterparts, including the single-, double- and triple- channels, our quad-channel waveguide can push the envelope of field of view further. With the aid of k-space diagram, the upper limit of field of view is illustrated and deduced. The design rules of the waveguide, sawtooth grating as the in-coupler, and slanted grating as the out-coupler are expounded. Through the rigorous coupled-wave analysis, the diffraction efficiencies of gratings can be calculated and optimized. As an overall evaluation, its key performance indicators are summarized as follows. Field of view is 100° (diagonal), eye relief is 10 mm, exit pupil is 11.5 × 11.5 mm2, average transmittance is 2.56 %, and average uniformity is 75 %.

Three-dimensional angular deviation and diffraction efficiency of a grating in Littrow-configuration ECDL

We consider in this paper the angular deviation and diffraction efficiency of the reflection gratings in Littrow-configuration for applications of external cavity diode laser using the rigorous coupled-wave analysis method. We consider the three-dimensional diffraction case in general, where the incidence plane is un-parallel with the grating vector, i.e. conical diffraction. The angular tolerance of arbitrary gratings under plane and conical diffraction are thus derived and presented. A typical blazed grating is chosen as an example to calculate its diffraction efficiency using the rigorous coupled-wave analysis method. Furthermore, we point out that the angular tolerance and reflection efficiency can be improved if the appropriate parameter settings are selected for Littrow-configuration devices, including incidence angle, diffraction order, grating period and blazed angle. Otherwise, a tiny slanting angle of the grating vector deviated from the incidence plane will deviate the feedback light away from entering the laser-diode-chip and halt laser oscillation in the external cavity. Finally, a general rule for the parameter settings in Littrow-configuration is provided as a benchmark.

Femtosecond‐laser micromachining fork gratings in LN crystal with different mechanisms

AbstractIn this work, we used femtosecond‐laser direct writing to fabricate two kinds of modified structures with opposite refractive‐index changes to build fork‐grating configurations in z‐cut LiNbO3 (LN) crystals. Experimental and simulation results indicate that the fork grating combined with the modified area of the refractive index increased and refractive index decreased produces a more effective diffraction effect at 532 nm. The diffraction results of these fork gratings have been investigated. Compared with the fork grating only with the refractive‐index‐decreased filaments, when the incident beam is at transverse magnetic, transverse electric, and circular polarizations, the diffraction efficiency is improved by 5.3%, 4.3%, and 9.6%, respectively. Our work provides a new perspective for improving the diffraction efficiency of fork gratings in LN crystals.

Design of large-deflection-angle high-diffraction-efficiency high-dispersion hybrid gratings

Gratings are key components in many optical systems such as spectrometers. Improving their dispersion is very important for their applications, but improving the single-order diffraction efficiency of an ultrahigh dispersion grating is still very challenging. Here, we propose an analytical approach for the design of a new type of grating named hybrid grating, which consists of a subwavelength grating and a non-subwavelength grating. The proposed analytical approach is based on a physical model in which the non-subwavelength grating acts as an ultrathin reflection grating and the subwavelength grating acts as an antireflection coating. Using the rigorous coupled-wave analysis and the finite-difference time-domain method, we numerically demonstrate that multiple hybrid gratings designed at different wavelengths using the proposed analytical approach show a diffraction efficiency of greater than 95 % in the -1st diffraction order for TE-polarized light, an angular dispersion of greater than 0.8 mrad/nm and a deflection angle of greater than 80°. Furthermore, we numerically demonstrate that by using a combined approach to optimize the parameters of a hybrid grating, the diffraction efficiency in the -1st diffraction order for TE-polarized light can be increased to more than 97 % under the condition that the angular dispersion and the deflection angle of the hybrid grating remain unchanged. Our work provides an avenue for rapid design of gratings with high angular dispersion, large deflection angle and high diffraction efficiency.

Relationship between machining accuracy and optical properties of convex blazed grating in ultra-precision cutting.

For ultra-precision machining of convex blazed grating elements there are inevitable machining errors, surface defects, and surface roughness, all of which can have an impact on their diffraction efficiency. In this paper, we use PCGrate software based on the integration method to establish the machining error model, surface defect model, and surface roughness model of convex spherical blazed grating with a curvature radius of 41.104 mm, a substrate diameter of 14 mm, a grating density of 53.97 line/mm and a blazed angle of 3.86° as the basic specification. To investigate the effect of base curvature radius error, grating period error, blazed angle error, grating ridge and valley passivation radius, Poisson burr height, and blaze surface roughness on their -1 order diffraction efficiency in the 0.95-2.5 µm spectral range. The results show that when the curvature radius error of the spherical base is less than ±80µm, the influence on diffraction efficiency can be ignored. Among the three groups of grating microstructure parameters, the influence of blazed angle on grating diffraction efficiency is the largest, followed by a grating period, and the influence of grating apex angle is the smallest, among which when the error of blazed angle is less than ±0.1° and the error of grating period is less than ±0.1µm, the influence on diffraction efficiency can be ignored. The effect of the passivation radius of the grating valley on the diffraction efficiency is smaller than that of the passivation radius of the grating ridge, and the maximum reduction of diffraction efficiency is 0.096 and 0.144 when the grating ridge and valley passivation radius are 50nm∼650 nm, respectively. The diffraction efficiency decreases significantly in the wavelength range of 1.9-2.5 µm with the increase of Poisson burr height and blaze surface roughness, and its effect on the diffraction efficiency can be neglected when the Poisson burr height is less than 0.5 µm and the blaze surface roughness value is less than RMS 1 nm. The machining error, surface defect, and surface roughness models of the convex blazed grating are optimized to provide a comprehensive machining accuracy basis for ultra-precision cutting of convex grating components.

Study on the influence of surface roughness on the diffraction efficiency of two-dimensional gratings.

This study investigates the effect of surface roughness on the diffraction efficiency of two-dimensional gratings. Firstly, a roughness model was constructed using FDTD, followed by a significant analysis of the ridge roughness, groove roughness, and sidewall roughness on diffraction efficiency. Then, the impact of each roughness type on diffraction efficiency was studied separately. Results indicate that ridge roughness has a negative impact on diffraction efficiency, whereas groove roughness and sidewall roughness have a positive impact on the diffraction efficiency of two-dimensional gratings. When ridge, groove, and sidewall roughness coexist, diffraction efficiency decreases with an increase in roughness, consistent with previous research. However, under conditions of minimal roughness, diffraction efficiency actually increases. Finally, an experiment was conducted to verify the conclusions. The results of this study have significant reference value for the application and development of precision measurement techniques for gratings.

Stabilization of Diffraction Gratings Recorded in Poly-N-epoxypropylcarbazole Films Doped with Iodoform

In poly-N-epoxypropylcarbazole films containing 10 wt % CHI3 as an additive, diffraction gratings with a period of about 1 μm have been recorded by electron-beam irradiation at various radiation doses. The influence of the duration of storage in the dark of diffraction gratings on their diffraction efficiency has been examined. A postradiation increase in the diffraction efficiency of gratings recorded at relatively low electron radiation doses was observed. The diffraction efficiency values stabilized approximately on the sixth day afterrecording the diffraction gratings.

Integrated optical design method for the synchrotron radiation beamlines

In this paper, a new beamline optical system design method is reported in which the calculation of synchrotron radiation source flux distribution, monochromator spectral resolving power, mirror reflectance and grating diffraction efficiency are integrated together in one program to evaluate the whole beamline optical system performance. We demonstrate the advantage of this method by applying it to the Surface Physics beamline at Hefei Light Source to find out better optical system parameters. By using this method, a higher photon flux with the same spectral resolving power than the original design is achieved. The integrated optical system design method provides a great promising application in the beamline optical design and optimization in the future.