Efficiency optimization of rectangular groove gratings for use in the visible and IR regions

Abstract

Rigorous electromagnetic theory is used to investigate the low order diffraction efficiency behavior of perfectly conducting rectangular groove plane diffraction gratings in the lambda/d domain of 0.25-1.8 of interest to spectrometry. We show how to optimize performance and make comparisons with blazed and holographic gratings. The role of finite conductivity and departure from Littrow conditions is also investigated. Comparison with experiment confirms the accuracy of the theory.