A new theoretical method for diffraction gratings and its numerical application

Describes a new formalism for the study of diffraction by a grating. It is characterized by a translation coordinate system which allows one to write a system of linear partial differential equations with constant coefficients, after using the Maxwell equations in curvilinear coordinates. The numerical application is based on elementary matrix calculus. The program has been tested through classical numerical criteria and also by comparisons with results given by the integral method.