Bragg diffraction of volume grating under finite Gaussian-profile ultrashort pulse illumination

The diffraction behavior of an ultrashort optical pulse with Gaussian-profile both in time and space diffracted by a volume grating is numerically investigated using two-wave first-order coupled wave theory, which elegantly expressed the theory of volume holography by Kogelnik. Simple analytical expressions for the spectrum and spatial profiles of the transmitted and diffracted beams in the near field are obtained. The total diffraction efficiency is also presented. Detailed diffraction characteristics for the ultrashort pulsed Gaussian beams are investigated. The analysis and diffraction characteristics presented in this paper are important for the ultrashort pulse shaping and volume grating applications.