Fractal diffraction gratings built through rectangular domains

Some regular fractals can be obtained as the product superposition of perio dic functions. Along this work, the correlation between the method to build fractal gratings and the intensity distribution for diffracted fields in t he Fraunhofer region is studied. Adding an exponent to each periodic compon ent we can obtain a system that is then applied in optical information proc essing, since different combinations can be achieved. The existence of such periodic components can be proved by analyzing the diffracted field near t he Fraunhofer region. The characterization of diffracted fields can be rela ted with the corresponding diffracted properties for two-dimensional period ic functions. The applications are developed for the calculation and experi mental registration in such region for the Cantor bars, Sierpinski carpet a nd Sierpinski gasket. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.