Recent advancements in microfabrication technologies and the development of powerful simulation tools have led to a significant expansion of diffractive optics and diffractive optical components. Instrument developers can choose from a broad range of diffractive optics elements to complement refractive and reflective components in achieving a desired control of the optical field. This Field Guide provides the operational principles and established terminology of diffractive optics as well as a comprehensive overview of the main types of diffractive optics components. An emphasis is placed on the qualitative explanation of the diffraction phenomenon by the use of field distributions and graphs, providing the basis for understanding the fundamental relations and important trends.

Recent advancements in microfabrication technologies as well as the development of powerful simulation tools have led to a significant expansion of diffractive optics and the commercial availability of cost-effective diffractive optical components. Instrument developers can choose from a broad range of diffractive optical elements to complement refractive and reflective components in achieving a desired control of the optical field.

Material required for understanding the diffractive phenomenon is widely dispersed throughout numerous literature sources. This Field Guide offers scientists and engineers a comprehensive reference in the field of diffractive optics. College students and photonics enthusiasts will broaden their knowledge and understanding of diffractive optics phenomena.

The primary objectives of this Field Guide are to familiarize the reader with operational principles and established terminology in the field of diffractive optics, as well as to provide a comprehensive overview of the main types of diffractive optics components. An emphasis is placed on the qualitative explanation of the diffraction phenomenon by the use of field distributions and graphs, providing the basis for understanding the fundamental relations and the important trends.

I would like to thank SPIE Press Manager Timothy Lamkins and Series Editor John Greivenkamp for the opportunity to write a Field Guide for one of the most fundamental physical optics phenomena, as well as SPIE Press Senior Editor Dara Burrows for her help.

My endless gratitude goes to my family: to my wife Eleanora, who had to bear additional duties during my work on this book, as well as to my children, Rose and Michael, who learned the material while helping with proofreading the manuscript.

Yakov G. Soskind

August 2011