We present a genetic algorithm with small population sizes for the design of diffraction gratings in the rigorous domain. A general crossover and mutation scheme is defined, forming fifteen offspring from 3 parents, which enables the algorithm to be used for designing gratings with diverse optical properties by careful definition of the merit function. The initial parents are randomly selected and the parents of the subsequent generations are selected by survival of the fittest. The performance of the algorithm is demonstrated by designing diffraction gratings with specific application to high power laser beam lines. Gratings are designed that act as beam deflectors, polarisers, polarising beam splitters, harmonic separation gratings and pulse compression gratings. By imposing fabrication constraints within the design process, we determine which of these elements have true potential for application within high power laser beam lines.
Diffractive optical technology is rapidly becoming an indispensable tool for the creation of high-efficiency optical beam-shaping devices within a wide range of industrial and research activities. The high damage thresholds of typical materials used in diffractive optical element fabrication make them highly suited for deployment in high-power laser systems. We present two high-power applications of diffractive optical elements designed using an ultrahigh fidelity, ultrahigh efficiency design technique and demonstrate the advantages, in terms of optical alignment, that can be achieved by combining the diffractive structures with a multilevel diffractive lens.
In this paper, we review several different design techniques for the
creation of diffractive optical elements (DOEs). We compare the performance speed of these disparate methods against the efficiency and fidelity of the grating output. In addition, we investigate the mechanisms behind observed deviations of the actual element output from both the desired and simulated DOE outputs. This investigation allows the relative importance of the different fabrication error mechanisms to be assessed and some conclusions regarding modification to the fabrication process to be reached.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.