Abstract

Bragg-domain scattering of arbitrary-profile optical beams by gratings (moving or stationary) has been studied for weak and strong interactions in two dimensions, and weak volume interactions. In many cases, exact analytical solutions are unavailable, even though representative coupled-wave and integral equations may be derived. Recent work based on paraxial optics and small Bragg angles indicated that the center of a Gaussian-profile beam shifts away from the axis in the asymptotic limits of large grating phase delays and Qs.¹ In this paper, this work is extended and modified to include arbitrary Bragg angles and optical profiles, as well as the noncurved nature of stationary and uniformly periodic plane holographic gratings. Three different types of optical profile are then numerically tested in small and large Bragg angle limits, for varying grating phase delays and Q-parameters. Of special interest is the study of a Bessel function-type profile, for which earlier studies have shown a minimum spatial spreading from a self-diffraction effect. Such a characteristic, if achieved, would be of particular interest in the design of diffraction-free beam propagation from optical holograms in efficient interconnection systems.²

© 1991 Optical Society of America