Angular Grating Anomalies - Effects of Finite Beam Size on Wide-angle Diffraction Phenomena

    Authors

    J. E. Harvey;E. A. Nevis

    Comments

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    Keywords

    Diffraction Gratings; Grating Anomaly; Grating Equation; Finite Beam; Size; Field; Optics

    Abstract

    Diffraction gratings are known to exhibit anomalous behavior at certain critical wavelengths or incident angles. These traditional anomalies manifest themselves as abrupt variations in diffracted order efficiency or grating absorption, while their angular position remains unchanged as predicted by the grating equation. Experimental observations have been reported, indicating a diffraction grating anomaly in the angular position of certain diffracted orders that appears to violate the grating equation. Several exotic physical mechanisms have been suggested as possible causes of this intriguing behavior; however, in this paper we show that this angular grating anomaly is the straightforward result of finite beam size on wide-angle diffraction phenomena, as described by simple scalar diffraction theory.

    Journal Title

    Applied Optics

    Volume

    31

    Issue/Number

    31

    Publication Date

    1-1-1992

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    6783

    Last Page

    6788

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:A1992JW12700036

    ISSN

    0003-6935

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