Method of Coupled Waves in the Theory of Diffraction of Light by Elastic Waves in Crystals

Diffraction of light by elastic waves in crystals is described by the method of coupled waves in a form different from that used by other researchers. The difference is determined by the treatment of two pairs of orthogonal coordinate systems whose principal axes are oriented along the directions of phase and energy transfer of two optical waves interacting on a sound wave. Due to this, the equations of coupled waves assume the most compact form, which was previously unknown for crystals. These equations are easily solved by the conventional methods in terms of quasi-plane waves and also admit of a wider class of solutions for bounded interaction regions. Two different diffraction regimes are compared in the present work, namely, the transmission and reflection diffraction. It is indicated that the suggested approach allows one to refine the parameters that define the efficiency of diffraction of light by elastic waves in crystals.