Diffraction feature and applications of holographic Bragg gratings

Abstract

Bragg character of a light diffraction on volume phase holographic gratings is considered as the basic of their applications in a number of classical and new optical instruments. Owing to high angular/spectral selectivity of the Bragg grating monochromators can be realised without application of input/output slits. Strengthening of an spectral dispersion due to the 3D-diffraction provides a single-mode oscillation in dye lasers even with nanosecond pumping. The polychromator with a such grating is attained in divergent “white” light beam in a plane of a grating dispersion. Two diffracted beams controlled power on a grating exit in a combination with the simple lens optics for beam crossing implement a 2-beam interferometer with controlled spatial resolution. Calibrated on a spatial frequency the grating on a goniometric knot forms the high-precision wavelengthmeter. High angular selectivity of such grating allows to implement optical vibration sensor with sensitivity comparable with that at modern seismographer.