Potential opportunities of sawtooth diffraction microstructure with two layers and single relief

We present the estimated parameter (Q factor) derived from scalar diffraction theory for a two-layer single-relief sawtooth diffraction microstructure comprising a pair of optical materials. The Q factor allows the negative effects that arise due to the nonlinearity of the difference in the refractive indices of optical materials to be evaluated. This parameter enables pairs of optical materials to be easily compared and the most promising ones to be selected. Using the mathematical model based on microstructures with the minimum and maximum Q factor values, the best possible angular characteristics in framework of the rigorous theory of diffraction are estimated for a two-layer single-relief microstructure. It is shown that the angular characteristics of a microstructure composed of two nanocomposite materials are very close to the maximum possible characteristics.