diffractors
A diffractor is any object or device that causes diffraction of waves, typically electromagnetic waves such as light, but also sound or matter waves. Diffraction refers to the bending and spreading of waves around obstacles and through apertures whose dimensions are comparable to the wavelength. Unlike a refractor, which alters a wave's direction mainly by changing the medium's refractive index, a diffractor modulates the phase and amplitude of a wave via its microstructure or geometry.
Common diffractors include diffractive optical elements (DOEs) such as zone plates, diffraction gratings, holographic patterns, and
Applications include beam shaping and splitting, spectral separation, imaging systems with compact focal lengths, and telescopes
Design considerations include efficiency, wavelength dependence, and chromatic dispersion, which can limit performance across colors or