Diffraction characteristics of volume holographic gratings with finite size for the ultrashort pulsed beam readout

Using the two-dimensional coupled-wave theory, the diffraction characteristics of volume holographic gratings (VHGs) with finite size planar are studied for the ultrashort pulsed beam (UPB) readout. Numerical simulations are show for the special case of the overlapping VHGs reconstructed by a Gaussian-shaped UPB in temporal domain. The effects of the material dispersion and the finite size of the grating on the intensity distributions of the diffracted and transmitted pulsed beams, and the total diffraction efficiency are given. Our study also shows the differences between the diffraction characteristics of the finite size planar VHG for the UPB readout and those for the CW readout. And, comparison of the diffraction characteristics between the finite size VHGs and the one dimensional VHGs under the UPB readout is given.