Back to the Future of DOE Design
 

Part 1:
Design & Rigorous Optimization of a Diffractive Beam Splitter

In the first part of our series on diffractive optical elements (DOEs) we would like to turn our attention to diffractive beam splitters which, in contrast to other DOEs like beam shapers and diffusers, are desired to generate a uniform discrete pattern. Because the working principle of these components is based on diffraction of the incident light by these patterned surfaces, DOE beam shapers and beam splitters can be designed to be much thinner and lighter than their refractive counterparts, but the small structure sizes required make them difficult and resource-intensive to simulate.

In this field, the fast, accurate and flexible simulation and design algorithms of VirtualLab Fusion play to their strengths: the advantages of different solvers like the Thin Element Approximation (TEA), Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis (RCWA) and Fourier techniques for free-space propagation are combined to allow optical engineers to not just design the elements, but also analyze their behavior in complex systems.

As an example, we would like to present the design of a non-paraxial beamsplitter, which is further optimized by applying rigorous techniques. The document (linked below) offers a deeper look into our diffractive optical element and microstructure components.