title: Rigorous coupled wave analysis applied to transmission efficiency of diffractive beam array relays for free-space optical interconnects.
abstract: Parallel high-density free-space optical interconnects typically relay multiple channels in an array configuration; thus, they require good uniformity across their aperture for optimum performance. Rigorous coupled wave analysis is used to determine the throughput off-axis diffraction efficiency for Fresnel lenses within a diffractive imaging relay. The rigorous results are compared with scalar theory and show a significant nonuniformity not predicted by scalar theory. However, the polarization sensitivity is found to be negligible for the f-numbers considered (f/2.9 to f/10.2). These results are supported by experiment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Room 753, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2A7. colin@photonics.ece.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Colin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Alleyne
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kirk