Full-wave analysis of the optimum triplicator

Starting from the results obtained in the scalar domain for the diffractive optical element that; produces three equi-intense diffraction orders with the maximum efficiency, we present a full-wave electromagnetic treatment of such optimum triplicator. The performances of this element are studied in the resonance domain and in the scalar limit as far as the dependence on the grating period, the incidence angle, and the wavelength of the impinging radiation is concerned. Furthermore, the effects of a quantization of the phase profile to a discrete number of phase levels are studied.