Diffractive optical element design with memory-matrix-based identificationmethodology

We present a new technique for the design of diffractive optical elements ( DOE's) that is based on previous nonlinear least squares (NLS) and phase-sh ifting quantization methods [Appl. Opt. 36, 7297-7306 (1997)]. The techniqu e uses a memory-matrix-based identification (MMBI) optimization procedure. We compare results from the MMBI method with those from iterative Fourier t ransform and NLS methods. In comparison, the MMBI DOE designs produce bette r-quality reconstructions for DOE's with eight or more fabrication phase le vels and generally have a higher signal-to-noise ratio and better uniformit y. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America. OCIS codes: 050.1970, 070.4560, 100 .5090, 200.2610, 200.4650.