Integral diffraction efficiency model for multilayer diffractive optical elements with wide angles of incidence in...

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Diffractive optical elements (DOEs) typically operate under oblique incidence.
• Multilayer diffractive optical elements (MLDOEs) exhibit high sensitivity to the angle of incidence, impacting diffraction efficiency.
• Designing MLDOEs for wide angles of incidence is crucial for practical applications, especially in hybrid optical systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an integral diffraction efficiency model for MLDOEs under wide angles of incidence and polychromatic light.
• To detail an optimal design methodology for MLDOEs that maximizes diffraction efficiency and minimizes structural height.
• To validate the proposed design approach through simulation for a visible waveband MLDOE.

Main Methods:

• Development of an integral diffraction efficiency model for MLDOEs considering polychromatic light and wide angles of incidence.
• Surface micro-structure height optimization to enhance diffraction efficiency and modulation transfer function (MTF).
• Simulation and design process for a two-layer MLDOE using PMMA and POLYCARB substrates in the visible spectrum.

Main Results:

• The proposed model enables high diffraction efficiency for MLDOEs across wide angles of incidence.
• Optimization of micro-structure heights leads to improved diffraction efficiency and MTF.
• The optimal design achieved maximum diffraction efficiency and minimum micro-structure heights for the simulated MLDOE.

Conclusions:

• The integral diffraction efficiency model and optimal design strategy are effective for MLDOEs.
• This approach ensures high performance across the entire waveband and wide angles of incidence, particularly for zoom hybrid optical systems.
• The optimized MLDOE design offers significant advantages for advanced optical system applications.