title: Depolarization of quasi-monochromatic light by thin resonant gratings.
abstract: Using rigorous diffraction theory, we show that it is possible to depolarize quasi-monochromatic light using a fully deterministic, thin optical element. The principle is based on polarization-sensitive resonant gratings in total-internal-reflection configuration, and careful numerical design by the Fourier modal method. We present numerical examples for 0.1 nm and 10 nm bandwidths.
authors.affiliation: University of Joensuu, Department of Physics and Mathematics, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland. ismo.vartiainen@joensuu.fi
authors.forename: Ismo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vartiainen
authors.forename: Jani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tervo
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuittinen