High dispersion diffraction grating including multiple holographic optical elements

Abstract

A multi-element diffraction grating is disclosed. The multi-element diffraction grating may be configured to diffract incident radiation with high dispersion using at least two holographic optical elements. The multi-element diffraction grating may include a first volume phase grating that is one of the holographic optical elements. The multi-element diffraction grating may also include at least one additional volume phase grating that is the second holographic optical element. The first volume phase grating and each of the additional volume phase gratings may be positioned relative to each other such that the radiation propagates through and is diffracted by the first volume phase grating and each of the additional volume phase gratings.

1 . A multi-element diffraction grating configured to diffract incident radiation with high dispersion using at least two holographic optical elements, the multi-element diffraction grating comprising: 
 a first volume phase grating, wherein the volume phase grating is one of the holographic optical elements; and    at least one additional volume phase grating, wherein each of the at least one additional volume phase gratings is another one of the holographic optical elements, the first volume phase grating and each of the additional volume phase gratings are positioned relative to each other such that the radiation propagates through and is diffracted by the first volume phase grating and each of the additional volume phase gratings.    
   
   
       2 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 1 , wherein the first volume phase grating and at least one of the additional volume phase gratings are non-Dickson gratings.  
   
   
       3 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 1 , wherein the first volume phase grating and at least one of the additional volume phase gratings are Dickson gratings.  
   
   
       4 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 1 , wherein the first volume phase grating and at least one of the additional volume phase gratings have the same spatial frequency.  
   
   
       5 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 1 , wherein the first volume phase grating and at least one of the additional volume phase gratings have different spatial frequencies.  
   
   
       6 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one wave plate.  
   
   
       7 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one wave plate further comprises a half wave plate.  
   
   
       8 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one wave plate further comprises two quarter wave plates.  
   
   
       9 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one wedge element.  
   
   
       10 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 9 , wherein the wedge element further comprises at least one prism.  
   
   
       11 . A multi-element diffraction grating configured to diffract incident radiation with high dispersion using two holographic optical elements, the multi-element diffraction grating comprising: 
 a first volume phase grating, wherein the volume phase grating is the first holographic optical element;    a second volume phase grating, wherein the second volume phase grating is the second holographic optical element, the first volume phase grating and the second volume phase grating are positioned relative to each other such that the radiation propagates through and is diffracted by the first volume phase grating and the second volume phase grating; and    at least one wedge element.    
   
   
       12 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 11 , wherein the first volume phase grating and the second volume phase grating are Dickson gratings.  
   
   
       13 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 12 , wherein the first volume phase grating and the second volume phase grating have the same spatial frequency.  
   
   
       14 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 13 , wherein at least one wedge element further comprises a prism.  
   
   
       15 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 14 , wherein the prism comprises fused silica.  
   
   
       16 . A multi-element diffraction grating configured to diffract incident radiation with high dispersion using two holographic optical elements, the multi-element diffraction grating comprising: 
 a first volume phase grating, wherein the volume phase grating is the first holographic optical element;    a second volume phase grating, wherein the second volume phase grating is the second holographic optical element, the first volume phase grating and the second volume phase grating are positioned relative to each other such that the radiation propagates through and is diffracted by the first volume phase grating and the second volume phase grating; and    at least one wave plate.    
   
   
       17 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 16 , wherein the first volume phase grating and the second volume phase grating are non-Dickson gratings.  
   
   
       18 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 17 , wherein the first volume phase grating and the second volume phase grating have the same spatial frequency.  
   
   
       19 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one wave plate further comprises a half wave plate.  
   
   
       20 . The multi-element diffraction grating of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one wave plate further comprises two quarter wave plates.