High-efficiency polarization-independent diffraction by transmission grating with a connecting layer

We describe a novel transmission grating with a connecting layer to achieve high efficiency diffraction with polarization-independence. The grating duty cycle and period are optimized by modal method. Accurate grating depth and connecting layer thickness are optimized using rigorous coupled-wave analysis. High efficiencies of 99.21% for TE polarization and 99.12% for TM polarization can be achieved with the optimized grating parameters. Furthermore, the grating with a connecting layer can show efficiencies larger than 97% for both TE and TM polarizations within the given range of grating depth and connecting layer thickness, which will be significant for practical applications of such a high-efficiency polarization-independent grating with a connecting layer. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.