Phases of Diffracted Light for Reflection and Transmission Gratings

Abstract
Phase properties of light diffracted by gratings are calculated for characteristic examples with help of a rigorous diffraction theory. The profile shapes of the investigated gratings are sinusoidal, lamellar, triangular or blazed and the kind of operation contain the diffraction by metallic reflection gratings as well as the diffraction by dielectric transmission gratings without and with coatings. The change of the polarization ellipse in dependence on wavelength or refractive index of coating is demonstrated for an interesting case.