Optical electromagnetic vector-field modeling for the accurate analysis of finite diffractive structures of high complexity

An electromagnetic vector-field modle for design of optical components based on the finite-difference-time-domain method and radiation integrals in presented. Its ability to predict the optical electromagnetic dynamics in structures with complex material distribution is demonstrated. Theoretical and numerical investigations of finite-length surface-relief structures embedded in polymer dielectric waveguiding materials are presented. The importance of several geometric parameter dependencies is indicated as far-field power distributions are rearranged between diffraction orders. The influences of the variation in grating period, modulation depth, length and profile are investigated.