Beyond the Grating Equation: Light Patterns in the Era of Diffractive Optics

The interaction of light with periodic patterns generates beautiful color patterns and interesting applications. The basic equation for understanding this phenomena is the grating equation. It tells us the angles, relative to a perpendicular to a grating with a specific period, into which light of a specific wavelength will be diffracted. But what it does not tell us is how much light will be directed into the various "orders" of the grating. It was found that by controlling the shape of the diamond point used to cut the periodic structure into the substrate, a traditional grating could be made to direct most of the light diffracted from it into a single order. This type of grating is referred to as a "blazed" grating. (omitted); grating. (omitted)