Conditions for Minimizing the Computational Complexity of the RCWA Calculation of the Diffraction Efficiency of Sawtooth Two-Layer Double-Relief Microstructures

Abstract

In this study, novel recommendations are presented and substantiated for selecting the number of modes and optical thicknesses of flat lattice slabs that make up microreliefs, which minimize the computational complexity of the rigorous coupled-wave analysis calculation of the diffraction efficiency (DE) of a sawtooth two-layer two-relief microstructure, while maintaining the specified reliability of the calculation results. The computational complexity can be controlled by allowing one or another level of oscillation of the DE curves, depending on the angle of incidence of the radiation incident on the microstructure. In particular, the complexity of the thousands of DE calculations in the optimization process can be reduced by using the proposed methodology as well as increased computational complexity to verify the accuracy of the solution obtained as a result of the implemented optimization.