Diffraction by thick, periodically stratified gratings with complex dielectric constant

Abstract

This paper extends Burckhardt’s solution for diffraction from a thick grating to include complex dielectric constants and nonsinusoidal stratifications. This allows any realistic periodic structure to be handled. Computed results are compared with coupled-wave theory, as described by Kogelnik, with emphasis on strongly absorbing gratings such as those made by photographing an interference pattern. Finally, some experimental holographic data are compared with computations that take into account the photographic nonlinearity between exposure and dielectric constant.