Overview
EN ISO 15902:2020 (ISO 15902:2019) - Optics and photonics - Diffractive optics - Vocabulary - defines the agreed-upon terminology for diffractive optical elements (DOEs) used in free-space propagation. The standard’s purpose is to reduce ambiguity and support consistent communication across research, design, manufacturing and standards work in diffractive optics.
Key topics
The document organizes vocabulary and key concepts around:
- Diffractive optics technologies: definitions for diffractive optics, binary optics, and holographic optics.
- Types of diffractive optical elements (DOE): amplitude vs. phase DOEs; transmission and reflection DOEs; active DOEs, holographic optical elements (HOE), computer-generated holograms (CGH) and binary optical elements (BOE).
- Structure and design:
- substrate, grating and phase profile
- surface-relief and volume phase elements
- binary / multi‑level phase structures, phase steps, blazed DOEs, deep gratings and multi‑diffraction‑order structures
- Q‑factor and its use to categorize thin (Raman–Nath) vs. thick (Bragg) diffraction behavior
- Properties: classification of diffraction, dispersion properties and polarization-related terms.
- Applications and metadata: defined application terms, symbols and abbreviated terms; index of approved terms.
Practical applications
EN ISO 15902:2020 is relevant where clear, harmonized terminology is required for diffractive optics used in:
- optical and electro‑optical system design
- optical data storage and related optical components (noted as a domain of rapid DOE growth)
- design and documentation of DOEs (CGH, HOE, BOE)
- specification, procurement and testing of diffractive components
The vocabulary aids manufacturers, optical engineers, test laboratories, researchers and standards bodies to avoid misunderstandings in technical specifications, design documentation and regulatory or procurement texts.
Who should use this standard
- Optical and photonics engineers and designers working with DOEs
- Manufacturers and fabricators of diffractive elements (lithography, embossing, or interferometric methods)
- Test and metrology laboratories producing reports referencing DOE properties
- Standards committees, educators and researchers seeking consistent terminology
Related standards and notes
- EN ISO 15902:2020 endorses ISO 15902:2019 and supersedes EN ISO 15902:2005.
- Prepared by ISO/TC 172 (Optics and photonics) in collaboration with CEN/TC 123 (Lasers and photonics).
- The standard contains no normative references but includes an index, symbols and abbreviated terms for implementation.
