On the Rayleigh–Fourier method and the Chandezon method: Comparative study

It is well known that the Rayleigh–Fourier method numerically fails for modeling deep surface gratings. This is not the case of the Chandezon method (C-method), which is nowadays recognized as one of the most powerful grating-analysis tool, although both of these methods show a great similarity to each other. In this paper we give an explanation of this surprising observation by studying the Fourier representation of the electromagnetic field on the surface. Thanks to this study we provide an improvement of the Rayleigh–Fourier method and a new viewpoint on the C-method