Electromagnetic effects for the resonance-domain IR diffractive optics
Abstract
Binary optics technology enables the manufacture of arrays of diffractive micro-optical elements which are used in many optoelectronic devices, e.g. the focal plane collection optics. The first-order diffraction grating efficiency decreases in the best part of the resonance-domain region of diffraction, i.e. when the grating period is close to the optical wavelength in the substrate material. A large fraction of the fast binary lens surface relief is built of staircase annular structures whose width is of wavelength scale. Therefore, the rigorous electromagnetic theory of gratings has been applied in this paper to calculate and analyze the diffraction effects for the resonance-domain longwave (8-12 μm) infrared (LWIR) binary optics. It is shown that electromagnetic effects limit the speed of the LWIR first-order diffractive lenses and the optical gain achievable with the diffractive lenses used as the focal plane collection optics in the IR detection systems.
- Publication:
-
Infrared Physics and Technology
- Pub Date:
- August 2000
- DOI:
- 10.1016/S1350-4495(00)00040-2
- Bibcode:
- 2000InPhT..41..205S