Abstract

Dielectric gratings that convert surface waves into beams (or vice-versa) can couple energy from the optical waveguide equally well into both the regions above and below the grating. However, because a single beam is usually needed, this results in a coupling efficiency loss of about 50%. Such a loss can be substantially reduced by "blazing” the grating, i.e., choosing a suitable asymmetric profile that couples energy mostly into only one of the two regions. Although considerations are available^(1-4) for constructing specific dielectric gratings with good blazing properties, the general problem of designing highly efficient gratings has not been fully resolved.

© 1980 Optical Society of America