Temporal diffraction characteristics of transmitted multilayer volume holographic grating illuminated by an ultrashort pulse

Based on the coupled wave theory of Kogelnik and Fourier optics, the time-domain diffraction characteristics of tramsmitted multilayer volume holographic grating (MVHG) under an ultrashort pulse readout are investigated. It is shown that the temporal diffraction characteristics depend not only on the numbers of the grating layers, but also on the thicknesses of the grating layers and buffer layers, grating period and the refractive index modulation. Furthermore, using group velocity dispersion we give explanation on the time-delay of diffraction pulse with respect to the center of the readout pulse. Results of our discussion may find applications in optical communications, pulse shaping and processing.