MC Grating
2026-05-25 current release · Windows x64 · Intel MKL

Rigorous diffraction grating analysis and design

Six codes implementing the Fourier modal and Chandezon (C) methods for collinear, conical and crossed gratings — developed since 1999 at the General Physics Institute, Moscow.

Download the demo The six codes Demo mode without a license key: refractive indices are multiples of 0.5.
incident θ θ m=−2 m=−1 m=0 m=+1 Λ
Lamellar grating, classical mount: reflected orders for λ = 550 nm, Λ = 1 µm and 22° incidence, from the grating equation.

Six codes, two rigorous methods

The modal method (RCWA / FMM) → The C method (Chandezon) →
method × mount
Collinear
Conical
Crossed
Modal methodFourier modal method (RCWA) and true modes — lamellar and multilayer profiles

Modal Collinear

1D gratings in the classical mount — lamellar and multilayer stacks by the Fourier modal method.

Modal Conical

1D gratings under conical incidence: full polarization coupling off the plane of incidence.

Modal Crossed

Biperiodic (2D crossed) gratings — pillars, holes and photonic-crystal slabs.
Chandezon methodThe C method, classic and extended — smooth profiles by coordinate transformation

Chandezon Collinear

Smooth multilayer profiles in the classical mount, by the coordinate-transformation C method.

Chandezon Conical

Smooth-profile gratings under conical incidence, including deep sinusoidal corrugations.

Chandezon Crossed

2D crossed gratings with smooth profiles — the C method extended to biperiodic surfaces.

Each code is licensed separately, in a Full and a Light edition — the complete price list is on the pricing page.

1999developed since, General Physics Institute
40releases in the changelog
27publications in the bibliography
2methods — modal and Chandezon

Publications

How to cite MC Grating → All publications →
Method[1]J Chandezon, G Raoult and D Maystre, “A new theoretical method for diffraction gratings and its numerical application”, J. Opt. 11, 235-241 (1980). By the authors[12]Nikolay M. Lyndin, Olivier Parriaux and Alexander V. Tishchenko, “Modal analysis and suppression of the Fourier modal method instabilities in highly conductive gratings”, J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 24, 3781 (2007). Computed with MC Grating[17]V A Sychugov, V A Mikhailov, V A Kondratyuk, N M Lyndin, J Frahm, A I Zagumennyi, Yu D Zavartsev and P A Studenikin, “Short-wavelength (λ = 914 nm) microlaser operating on an Nd3+:YVO4 crystal”, Quantum Electron. 30, 13-14 (2000).

The authors

History since 1999 →
Dr. Nikolay Lyndin

Dr. Nikolay Lyndin

Senior physicist, General Physics Institute, Moscow

MC Grating Software of a diffraction grating analysis and design that would run on a PC was developed from 1999 by Dr. Nikolay Lyndin – senior physicist of General Physics Institute, Moscow. For many years the author is involved with solving scientific and practical problems of using multilayer grating structures in grating couplers, biochemistry sensors, laser resonator modes selection and others. For this reason from the beginning this grating software was designed for personal use to insure a maximum convenience for the user.

Boris Usievich

Boris Usievich

Physicist, General Physics Institute, Moscow

MC Grating Software development since the beginning was assisted by Boris Usievich – physicist of General Physics Institute, Moscow. For many years he is involved in the scientific research in the fields of analytical and numerical modelling of waveguide systems, plasmons, surface waves, diffraction gratings, wire grid polarizers etc. He is also a specialist in computer programming.

Since 2018 the software development is supported by Boris Usievich, Alexander Lyndin and Aleksey Bondarenko.

Documentation

All 69 topics →
Reference manual, per code family69 topics Step-by-step examples with figures36 figures Modes interference in high-contrast gratingsstudy Version history, 2013 → 202640 releases