DIFFRACTION AT OPTICAL RASTERS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MATERIAL

A new method is proposed for solving the problem of diffraction at a p eriodic structure, taking into account the complex refractive index of the medium. An analytical solution is obtained for the intensity dist ribution of the diffracted light in the form of a Fourier expansion. T he experimentally obtained optical characteristics of a polymeric mate rial (a layer) are used to test the proposed method. It is found that the spectral dispersion of the refractive index of the layer has no ef fect on the distribution of the diffraction pattern in the layer. (C) 1996 The Optical Society of America.