M. G. Moharam

Bio: M. G. Moharam is an academic researcher from University of Central Florida. The author has contributed to research in topics: Grating & Diffraction. The author has an hindex of 29, co-authored 75 publications receiving 11054 citations. Previous affiliations of M. G. Moharam include Georgia Institute of Technology.

Formulation for stable and efficient implementation of the rigorous coupled-wave analysis of binary gratings

Abstract: The rigorous coupled-wave analysis technique for describing the diffraction of electromagnetic waves by periodic grating structures is reviewed. Formulations for a stable and efficient numerical implementation of the analysis technique are presented for one-dimensional binary gratings for both TE and TM polarization and for the general case of conical diffraction. It is shown that by exploitation of the symmetry of the diffraction problem a very efficient formulation, with up to an order-of-magnitude improvement in the numerical efficiency, is produced. The rigorous coupled-wave analysis is shown to be inherently stable. The sources of potential numerical problems associated with underflow and overflow, inherent in digital calculations, are presented. A formulation that anticipates and preempts these instability problems is presented. The calculated diffraction efficiencies for dielectric gratings are shown to converge to the correct value with an increasing number of space harmonics over a wide range of parameters, including very deep gratings. The effect of the number of harmonics on the convergence of the diffraction efficiencies is investigated. More field harmonics are shown to be required for the convergence of gratings with larger grating periods, deeper gratings, TM polarization, and conical diffraction.

Rigorous coupled-wave analysis of planar-grating diffraction

Abstract: A rigorous coupled-wave approach is used to analyze diffraction by general planar gratings bounded by two different media. The grating fringes may have any orientation (slanted or unslanted) with respect to the grating surfaces. The analysis is based on a state-variables representation and results in a unifying, easily computer-implementable matrix formulation of the general planar-grating diffraction problem. Accurate diffraction characteristics are presented for the first time to the authors’ knowledge for general slanted gratings. This present rigorous formulation is compared with rigorous modal theory, approximate two-wave modal theory, approximate multiwave coupled-wave theory, and approximate two-wave coupled-wave theory. Typical errors in the diffraction characteristics introduced by these various approximate theories are evaluated for transmission, slanted, and reflection gratings. Inclusion of higher-order waves in a theory is important for obtaining accurate predictions when forward-diffracted orders are dominant (transmission-grating behavior). Conversely, when backward-diffracted orders dominate (reflection-grating behavior), second derivatives of the field amplitudes and boundary diffraction need to be included to produce accurate results.

Stable implementation of the rigorous coupled-wave analysis for surface-relief gratings: enhanced transmittance matrix approach

Abstract: An enhanced, numerically stable transmittance matrix approach is developed and is applied to the implementation of the rigorous coupled-wave analysis for surface-relief and multilevel gratings. The enhanced approach is shown to produce numerically stable results for excessively deep multilevel surface-relief dielectric gratings. The nature of the numerical instability for the classic transmission matrix approach in the presence of evanescent fields is determined. The finite precision of the numerical representation on digital computers results in insufficient accuracy in numerically representing the elements produced by inverting an ill-conditioned transmission matrix. These inaccuracies will result in numerical instability in the calculations for successive field matching between the layers. The new technique that we present anticipates and preempts these potential numerical problems. In addition to the full-solution approach whereby all the reflected and the transmitted amplitudes are calculated, a simpler, more efficient formulation is proposed for cases in which only the reflected amplitudes (or the transmitted amplitudes) are required. Incorporating this enhanced approach into the implementation of the rigorous coupled-wave analysis, we obtain numerically stable and convergent results for excessively deep (50 wavelengths), 16-level, asymmetric binary gratings. Calculated results are presented for both TE and TM polarization and for conical diffraction.

Analysis and applications of optical diffraction by gratings

Abstract: Diffraction characteristics of general dielectric planar (slab) gratings and surface-relief (corrugated) gratings are reviewed. Applications to laser-beam deflection, guidance, modulation, coupling, filtering, wavefront reconstruction, and distributed feedback in the fields of acoustooptics, integrated optics, holography, and spectral analysis are discussed. An exact formulation of the grating diffraction problem without approximations (rigorous coupled-wave theory developed by the authors) is presented. The method of solution is in terms of state variables and this is presented in detail. Then, using a series of fundamental assumptions, this rigorous theory is shown to reduce to the various existing approximate theories in the appropriate limits. The effects of these fundamental assumptions in the approximate theories are quantified and discussed.

Diffraction analysis of dielectric surface-relief gratings

Abstract: Diffraction by a dielectric surface-relief grating is analyzed using rigorous coupled-wave theory. The analysis applies to arbitrary grating profiles, groove depths, angles of incidence, and wavelengths. Example results for a wide range of groove depths are presented for sinusoidal, square-wave, triangular, and sawtooth gratings. Diffraction efficiencies obtained from the present method of analysis are compared with previously published numerical results. To obtain large diffraction efficiencies (greater than 85%) for gratings with typical substrate permittivities, it is shown that the grating profile should possess even symmetry.

Formulation for stable and efficient implementation of the rigorous coupled-wave analysis of binary gratings

Abstract: The rigorous coupled-wave analysis technique for describing the diffraction of electromagnetic waves by periodic grating structures is reviewed. Formulations for a stable and efficient numerical implementation of the analysis technique are presented for one-dimensional binary gratings for both TE and TM polarization and for the general case of conical diffraction. It is shown that by exploitation of the symmetry of the diffraction problem a very efficient formulation, with up to an order-of-magnitude improvement in the numerical efficiency, is produced. The rigorous coupled-wave analysis is shown to be inherently stable. The sources of potential numerical problems associated with underflow and overflow, inherent in digital calculations, are presented. A formulation that anticipates and preempts these instability problems is presented. The calculated diffraction efficiencies for dielectric gratings are shown to converge to the correct value with an increasing number of space harmonics over a wide range of parameters, including very deep gratings. The effect of the number of harmonics on the convergence of the diffraction efficiencies is investigated. More field harmonics are shown to be required for the convergence of gratings with larger grating periods, deeper gratings, TM polarization, and conical diffraction.

Rigorous coupled-wave analysis of planar-grating diffraction

Abstract: A rigorous coupled-wave approach is used to analyze diffraction by general planar gratings bounded by two different media. The grating fringes may have any orientation (slanted or unslanted) with respect to the grating surfaces. The analysis is based on a state-variables representation and results in a unifying, easily computer-implementable matrix formulation of the general planar-grating diffraction problem. Accurate diffraction characteristics are presented for the first time to the authors’ knowledge for general slanted gratings. This present rigorous formulation is compared with rigorous modal theory, approximate two-wave modal theory, approximate multiwave coupled-wave theory, and approximate two-wave coupled-wave theory. Typical errors in the diffraction characteristics introduced by these various approximate theories are evaluated for transmission, slanted, and reflection gratings. Inclusion of higher-order waves in a theory is important for obtaining accurate predictions when forward-diffracted orders are dominant (transmission-grating behavior). Conversely, when backward-diffracted orders dominate (reflection-grating behavior), second derivatives of the field amplitudes and boundary diffraction need to be included to produce accurate results.

Holographic storage in electrooptic crystals. i. steady state

Abstract: The non-linear theory of the self-diffraction on the light induced grating of refractive index in electrooptic crystals is developed. The intensities of the diffracted beams, the diffraction efficiency, and the shape of the surfaces of equal index change are calculated analytically for saturation holograms.Holographic storage in nominally pure reduced crystals of LiNbO3 is studied experimentally. It is shown that the developed theory in diffusion approximation satisfactorily describes the experimental data.

Stable implementation of the rigorous coupled-wave analysis for surface-relief gratings: enhanced transmittance matrix approach

Abstract: An enhanced, numerically stable transmittance matrix approach is developed and is applied to the implementation of the rigorous coupled-wave analysis for surface-relief and multilevel gratings. The enhanced approach is shown to produce numerically stable results for excessively deep multilevel surface-relief dielectric gratings. The nature of the numerical instability for the classic transmission matrix approach in the presence of evanescent fields is determined. The finite precision of the numerical representation on digital computers results in insufficient accuracy in numerically representing the elements produced by inverting an ill-conditioned transmission matrix. These inaccuracies will result in numerical instability in the calculations for successive field matching between the layers. The new technique that we present anticipates and preempts these potential numerical problems. In addition to the full-solution approach whereby all the reflected and the transmitted amplitudes are calculated, a simpler, more efficient formulation is proposed for cases in which only the reflected amplitudes (or the transmitted amplitudes) are required. Incorporating this enhanced approach into the implementation of the rigorous coupled-wave analysis, we obtain numerically stable and convergent results for excessively deep (50 wavelengths), 16-level, asymmetric binary gratings. Calculated results are presented for both TE and TM polarization and for conical diffraction.

Temporal coupled-mode theory for the Fano resonance in optical resonators

Abstract: We present a theory of the Fano resonance for optical resonators, based on a temporal coupled-mode formalism. This theory is applicable to the general scheme of a single optical resonance coupled with multiple input and output ports. We show that the coupling constants in such a theory are strongly constrained by energy-conservation and time-reversal symmetry considerations. In particular, for a two-port symmetric structure, Fano-resonant line shape can be derived by using only these symmetry considerations. We validate the analysis by comparing the theoretical predictions with three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations of guided resonance in photonic crystal slabs. Such a theory may prove to be useful for response-function synthesis in filter and sensor applications.