Abstract

Diffraction efficiency is often the most important attribute of a diffraction grating. Usually the aim is to maximise, but for special cases the opposite is true. It is defined and measured as the ratio of diffracted light to incident monochromatic light. In many instances, the behaviour depends strongly on the plane of polarization. In order to predict behaviour, or to design gratings for specific performance, requires an accurate theory, naturally based on Maxwell's equations. Fortunately, such solutions have finally been developed during the last decade, and now include even cases where the metal grating surface is buried under more than one layer of dielectric. They also lead to relatively simple categorization of most gratings into families of similar behaviour.

© 1981 Optical Society of America