Peegeldusvõred

Peegeldusvõred, also known as reflection gratings, are optical components used to diffract and redirect light. They are characterized by a periodic structure, typically a series of parallel lines or grooves, etched or ruled onto a surface. These structures have a spacing comparable to the wavelength of light being used, enabling them to interact with light in a way that causes diffraction.

When light strikes a peegeldusvõre, it is diffracted into multiple beams at specific angles. The angle of diffraction depends on the wavelength of the incident light and the spacing of the grating lines, a relationship described by the grating equation. This property makes peegeldusvõred useful for separating light into its constituent wavelengths, similar to a prism, but with a different dispersion mechanism.

Peegeldusvõred can be fabricated in various ways, including mechanical ruling of grooves onto a polished surface or holographic methods that use interfering light beams to create a pattern in a photosensitive material. They can be reflective, where the diffraction occurs from the surface of the grating, or transmissive, where light passes through the grating material.

Applications of peegeldusvõred are widespread. They are commonly found in spectrometers and monochromators for analyzing the spectral content of light sources. They are also used in telecommunications for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems, where different wavelengths of light are separated and combined. Other uses include security features on documents, in laser resonators, and in scientific research for precise manipulation of light. The efficiency and spectral resolution of a peegeldusvõre are key parameters determining its suitability for specific applications.