Work

Design and Fabrication of Volume Phase Holographic Gratings for CO2 Detection: A Multi-Objective Optimization Approach

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Volume phase holographic gratings (VPHGs) are high-performance dispersive elements characterized by high diffraction efficiency and low noise. When used as dispersive components in imaging spectrometers for CO2 detection, they can significantly enhance instrument performance, detection capability, and measurement accuracy. However, for short-wave infrared (SWIR) applications requiring high dispersion and operational efficiency, traditional design approaches struggle to effectively balance the trade-offs among multidimensional diffraction performance metrics, resulting in low optimization efficiency. Furthermore, as spectrometers require dispersive elements, established fabrication methods lack robust methodologies for producing large-area VPHGs. To address these gaps, we developed both a design approach and a fabrication process for VPH gratings tailored to CO2 detection. On the design front, we propose a novel method that integrates a multi-objective simulated annealing optimization algorithm with Kogelnik’s coupled-wave theory. The optimized gratings achieve diffraction efficiencies of 95.35% (TE polarization) and 82.21% (TM polarization) across the target spectral range, with polarization sensitivity maintained below 6.57%. For fabrication, we developed holographic plate fabrication via a blade-coating technique coupled with an optimized aging protocol. A medium-to-large aperture holographic recording and exposure system with a wavefront error better than λ/25 RMS was developed. Post-processing conditions were systematically optimized based on experimental diffraction efficiency measurements, enabling the successful fabrication of VPHGs. It is explicitly noted that the experimental validation of the fabricated VPHGs is limited to the 1.620–1.630 μm wavelength range, while the full target design range of 1.620–1.650 μm has not been experimentally verified in this work. This work provides a valuable reference for the selection of dispersive elements for next-generation CO2 detection satellites. The designed gratings fully meet application requirements, while the established fabrication process lays a solid foundation for the production of high-performance VPHGs.

Source: Photonics

DOI: 10.3390/photonics13050501

Authors: Lei Dai, Chao Lin, Zhenhua Ji, Yang Fu, Shuo Wang, Yuquan Zheng

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Photorefractive and Nonlinear Optics

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China