Integral Method for Gratings

The chapter containes a detailed presentation of the surface integral theory for modelling light diffraction by surface-relief diffraction gratings having a one-dimensional periodicity. Several different approaches are presented, leading either to a single integral equation, or to a system of coupled integral equations. Special attention is paid to the singularities of the kernels, and to different techniques to accelerate the convergence of the numerical computations. The theory is applied to gratings having different profiles with or without edges, to real metal and dielectrics, and to perfectly conducting substrates.