Elias N. Glytsis

Multilayer waveguides: efficient numerical analysis of general structures

An efficient numerical method for accurately determining the real and/or complex propagation constants of guided modes and leaky waves in general multilayer waveguides is presented. The method is applicable to any lossless and/or lossy (dielectric, semiconductor, metallic) waveguide structure. The method is based on the argument principle theorem and is capable of extracting all of the zeros of any analytic function in the complex plane. It is applied to solving the multilayer waveguide dispersion equation derived from the well known thin-film transfer matrix theory. Excellent agreement is found with seven previously published results and with results from two limiting cases where the propagating constants can be obtained analytically. >

Normal-incidence guided-mode resonant grating filters:?design and experimental demonstration

Guided-mode resonant grating filters have numerous applications. However, in weakly modulated gratings designed for use at normal incidence, the filtering resonance of these subwavelength-period devices splits for angles of incidence that are even slightly off normal incidence. Strongly modulated gratings are designed that essentially overcome this practical problem near normal incidence. In addition, these gratings can have, by design, either broad or narrow spectral characteristics. An experimental demonstration (1.5-2.0-mu m wavelength range) of such a normal-incidence guided-mode resonant silicon grating upon a sapphire substrate is presented. The measured reflection resonance had a FWHM of 67-100 nm for angles of incidence of 0-8 degrees and peak efficiency of ~80% .

HOMOGENEOUS LAYER MODELS FOR HIGH-SPATIAL-FREQUENCY DIELECTRIC SURFACE-RELIEF GRATINGS : CONICAL DIFFRACTION AND ANTIREFLECTION DESIGNS

The validity of various homogeneous layer models for high-spatial-frequency rectangular-groove (binary) dielectric surface-relief gratings is examined for both nonconical and conical diffraction. In each model the grating is described by a slab of uniaxial material with its optic axis parallel to the grating vector. The ordinary and principal extraordinary indices of the slab depend on the grating filling factor, the substrate and cover refractive indices, and the ratio of the wavelength to the grating period. These indices can be determined by solving two transcendental equations. Higher-order indices are defined as the exact solution to these equations. Second-order indices (second-order dependence on the wavelengthto- period ratio) and first-order indices (no dependence on the wavelength-to-period ratio) are defined by approximate solutions to these equations. Layer models using higher-order and second-order indices are shown to be accurate for high-spatial-frequency gratings, even at wavelength-to-period ratios near the onset of higher-order propagating diffracted waves. These models are used to design example antireflecting gratings on silicon substrates, including designs for conical incidence. All designs are evaluated and optimized by exact rigorous coupled-wave analysis.

Rigorous three-dimensional coupled-wave diffraction analysis of single and cascaded anisotropic gratings

The diffraction by one or an arbitrary number of cascaded anisotropic planar gratings with slanted fringes is analyzed by using rigorous three-dimensional vector coupled-wave theory. Arbitrary angle of incidence and polarization are treated. The existence of uniaxial external regions and the treatment of both phase and amplitude anisotropic slanted gratings are included in the analysis. The anisotropy and the three-dimensionality of the problem cause coupling between orthogonally polarized waves. The Bragg conditions for various combinations of ordinary (O) and extraordinary (E) polarized waves are quantified. Sample calculations are presented for single anisotropic gratings (a lithium niobate hologram in air and an interdigitated-electrode-induced electro-optic grating in an optical waveguide), for two cascaded anisotropic gratings (a pair of interdigitated-electrode-induced gratings satisfying the OOO forward Bragg condition, the EEE forward Bragg condition, and the OOO backward Bragg condition), and for multiple cascaded gratings (a lithium niobate hologram with depth modulation). The same analysis applies in the limiting cases of isotropic materials, a grating vector lying in the plane of incidence, etc. Applications for this analysis include optical storage, switching, modulation, deflection, and data processing.

High-spatial-frequency binary and multilevel stairstep gratings: polarization-selective mirrors and broadband antireflection surfaces

High-spatial-frequency, surface-relief binary gratings have been shown to have diffraction properties that are similar to homogeneous layers of equivalent refractive indices, which depend on the grating characteristics, angle of incidence, and polarization. Thus these gratings in the long-wavelength limit could be used as equivalent thin-film coatings. Because of their polarization discrimination these gratings can function as polarization-selective mirrors. A procedure for designing these gratings to be antireflective for one polarization (TE or TM) and to maximize their reflectivity for the orthogonal polarization (TM or TE) is presented. Multilevel stairstep gratings can similarly exhibit characteristics that resemble those of multilayer antireflection coatings (quarter-wave impedance transformers), thus permitting a broader wavelength bandpass. A systematic procedure for designing multilevel stairstepgratings to operate as multilayer thin-film antireflection surfaces is presented. These design methods are valid for both TE and TM polarizations and for any angle of incidence. Example designs are presented, and the rigorous coupled-wave diffraction analysis is used to evaluate the performance of these gratings as functions of the ratio of their period to the incident wavelength. Comparisons are included with homogeneous layers that are equivalent to the gratings in the long-wavelength limit.

Efficient coupling of high-intensity subpicosecond laser pulses into solids

We demonstrate a new technique for enhancing the absorption of high‐intensity, ultrashort‐duration laser pulses by solids. Targets consisting of gold gratings and gold clusters were found to absorb greater than 90% of the incident high‐intensity laser light. This is in contrast to less than 10% absorption by flat surfaces. As a result of this strong coupling of the laser to a high‐density plasma, conversion efficiency of laser energy to x rays of greater than 1% was observed for x rays above 1 keV. Efficiency of nearly 25% was observed for emissions greater than 30 eV. These conversion efficiencies are more than an order of magnitude greater than those measured from flat targets.

Transmission characteristics of long-period fiber gratings having arbitrary azimuthal/radial refractive index variations

A numerical method is presented for determining the transmittance of long-period (LP) fiber-gratings having arbitrary azimuthal/radial refractive index variations. The method uses coupled-mode theory and includes both the sine and cosine character of the LP modes. The model treats interactions between the fundamental LP/sub 01/ mode and high-azimuthal-order cladding modes. The method utilizes the transfer matrix method to model cylindrical layers both in the core and the cladding regions.

Electrical and optical clock distribution networks for gigascale microprocessors

A summary of electrical and optical approaches to clock distribution within high-performance microprocessors is presented. System-level properties of intrachip electrical clock distribution networks corresponding to three microprocessor families are summarized. It is found that global clock interconnect performance and short-term jitter present the greatest challenges to the continued use of conventional clock distribution methodologies. An extrapolation of trends describing the percentage of clock period consumed by global skew and short-term jitter identifies the 32-nm technology generation of the 2002 International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) as the first technology generation within which alternate methods of clock distribution may be warranted. Research efforts investigating interboard through intrachip optical clock distribution are also summarized. An optical distribution network compatible with high volume manufacturing in conjunction with a suitable means of providing optical-to-electrical signal conversion comprise the two fundamental challenges facing successful implementation of an optical clock distribution network. It is found that a global guided-wave distribution capable of efficient input and output coupling of optical power is required to meet the first challenge. The identification of a suitable means of optical-to-electrical conversion, however, remains an active topic of research.

Design, fabrication, and performance of preferential-order volume grating waveguide couplers

Both a nonfocusing and a focusing preferential-order volume grating waveguide coupler were designed, fabricated, and tested. These volume grating couplers are designed to outcouple a 633-nm wave guided in an adjacent polyimide waveguide film. The slanted-fringe volume gratings are recorded holographically by the interference of two 364-nm waves. The dynamics of the holographic photopolymer HRF600X001 are investigated in relation to the interaction with the guided wave. The fabricated couplers exhibited a preferential coupling of 98%, a spatial coupling rate of 3.6 mm(-1), and a coupling efficiency of 95%. The focusing grating coupler focused the outcoupled beam to a focal line with a full width at half-maximum of 10.49 microm located 25 mm above the grating.

Finite-number-of-periods holographic gratings with finite-width incident beams: analysis using the finite-difference frequency-domain method.

The effects of finite number of periods (FNP) and finite incident beams on the diffraction efficiencies of holographic gratings are investigated by the finite-difference frequency-domain (FDFD) method. Gratings comprising 20, 15, 10, 5, and 3 periods illuminated by TE and TM incident light with various beam sizes are analyzed with the FDFD method and compared with the rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA). Both unslanted and slanted gratings are treated in transmission as well as in reflection configurations. In general, the effect of the FNP is a decrease in the diffraction efficiency with a decrease in the number of periods of the grating. Similarly, a decrease in incident-beam width causes a decrease in the diffraction efficiency. Exceptions appear in off-Bragg incidence in which a smaller beam width could result in higher diffraction efficiency. For beam widths greater than 10 grating periods and for gratings with more than 20 periods in width, the diffraction efficiencies slowly converge to the values predicted by the RCWA (infinite incident beam and infinite-number-of-periods grating) for both TE and TM polarizations. Furthermore, the effects of FNP holographic gratings on their diffraction performance are found to be comparable to their counterparts of FNP surface-relief gratings.