Iterative and noniterative design algorithms for Bragg gratings

Advances in fabrication have increased interest in techniques to design gra tings with specific properties. Various techniques to design gratings with specified reflection characteristics already exist. The relative advantages and disadvantages of two different (iterative vs noniterative) classes of design algorithms are compared qualitatively and quantitatively. Iterative algorithms are quite general and robust, but are slow and inefficient for s trong gratings. Noniterative algorithms are extremely accurate and efficien t but can only be applied to a restricted class of gratings. Existing itera tive techniques also have the disadvantage that they give a more accurate r epresentation at the front of the grating, and the accuracy decreases rapid ly along the length of the grating. New design techniques are presented tha t overcome some of these existing disadvantages by using information about the reflection characteristics from both ends of the grating and also using the transmission characteristics. (C) 1999 Academic Press.