Computer simulation of diffractive optical element (DOE) performance

Diffractive optical elements (DOE), also known as computer generated holograms (CGH), can transform an illuminating laser beam into a specified intensity distribution by diffraction rather than refraction or reflection. These are widely used in coherent light systems with beam shaping purposes, as an alignment tool or as a structured light generator. The diffractive surface is split into an array of sub-wavelength depth cells. Each of these locally transforms the beam by phase adaptation. Based on the work of the LSP lab from the University of Strasbourg, France, we have developed a unique industry-oriented tool. It allows the user first to optimize a DOE using the Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm. This part can manage sources from the simple plane wave to high order Gaussian modes or complex maps defined beams and objective patterns based on BMP images. A simulation part permits then to test the performance of the DOE with regard to system parameters, dealing with the beam, the DOE itself and the system organization. This will meet the needs of people concerned by tolerancing issues. Focusing on the industrial problem of beam shaping, we will present the whole DOE design sequence.. starting from the generation of a DOE up to the study of the sensitivity of its performance according to the variation of several parameters of the system. For example, we will show the influence of the position of the beam on diffraction efficiency. This unique feature formerly neglected in industrial design process will lead the way to production quality improvement.