title: Diffraction of optical communication Gaussian beams by volume gratings: comparison of simulations and experimental results.
abstract: The diffraction effects induced by a thick holographic grating on the propagation of a finite Gaussian beam are theoretically analyzed by means of the coupled-wave theory and the beam propagation method. Distortion of the transmitted and diffracted beams is simulated as a function of the grating parameters. Theoretical results are verified by experimentation realized by use of LiNbO3 volume gratings read out by a 1550-nm Gaussian beam, typical of optical fiber communications. This analysis can be implemented as a useful tool to aid with the design of volume grating-based devices employed in optical communications.
authors.affiliation: Consortium for Research in Optical Processing and Switching, Via G. Colombo 81, Milan 20133, Italy. boffi@corecom.it
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boffi
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osmond
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piccinin
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ubaldi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinelli