Extended Rayleigh-Fano theory and its application to grating polarization

A simple method of calculating the degree of polarization of light diffracted by a grating having shallow grooves and finite conductivity is developed by extending the Rayleigh-Fano theory. Its validity is examined by comparing the computed degree of polarization with experimental data obtained in the visible and vacuum ultraviolet for the +/- 1st and -2nd orders of Al- and Au-coated blazed gratings and holographic gratings used in the specific mountings. The calculations are in good agreement with the observed polarization behavior of the gratings, verifying the usefulness of the present method.