title: Split step solution in the iteration of the beam propagation method for analyzing Bragg gratings.
abstract: The split step method is applied to the iteration of the beam propagation method for analyzing the reflection of a laser beam by a volume Bragg grating. The application of the split step method is made possible by a way to properly treat the grating coupling terms in the paraxial wave equations. This method is demonstrated to be accurate in addition to efficient and robust. After this modification, the iteration of the beam propagation method is suitable for analyzing finite beams in volume Bragg gratings, for which the grating strength might be large. It is also suitable for analyzing Bragg gratings with nonuniform grating structures.
authors.affiliation: College of Optics and Photonics, CREOL and FPCE, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA. hshu@creol.ucf.edu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shu