# Products The six MC Grating codes — Modal Collinear, Modal Conical, Modal Crossed, Chandezon Collinear, Chandezon Conical and Chandezon Crossed — what each computes, the features they share, and the Full and Light editions and the demo mode. Canonical: https://mcgrating.com/products.html Six independent Windows codes. Three implement the modal methods, best suited to rectangular (lamellar) profiles and applicable to others by slicing them into layers; three the Chandezon C method for smooth profiles; each exists in a collinear, a conical and a crossed-grating version. ## Two methods, six codes ### The modal methods The Modal methods software includes True Modes Method (TMM) and Fourier Modes Method (FMM) also known as RCWA. This software is intended for diffraction gratings design and analysis. It is best suited to rectangular (lamellar) profiles; other profiles are handled by slicing them into layers. It includes three independent codes: ### Modal Collinear The collinear modal methods code deals with a multilayer grating structure and when incidence wave vector belongs to the XZ plane normal to the structure and grating grooves. [Documentation](https://mcgrating.com/docs/modal/introduction.html) ### Modal Conical The conical modal methods code extends the possibilities of the collinear code to a conical mount, i.e. for any incident angles and any polarization. This code accepts files saved by the collinear code but it is about eight times slower. [Documentation](https://mcgrating.com/docs/modal/introduction.html) ### Modal Crossed The crossed grating code (FMM) deals with a multilayer 2D grating structure in the conical mounting. [Documentation](https://mcgrating.com/docs/modal-crossed/introduction.html) [The modal method, explained →](https://mcgrating.com/features/modal-method.html) ### The C method The C-method software includes classic and extended methods. This software is intended for diffraction gratings design and grating analysis of a smooth grating profile and includes three independent codes: ### Chandezon Collinear The collinear C-methods code deals with a multilayer grating structure when incidence wave vector belongs to the XZ plane normal to the structure and grating grooves. [Documentation](https://mcgrating.com/docs/chandezon/introduction.html) ### Chandezon Conical The conical C-methods code extends the possibilities of the collinear code to a conical mount, i.e. for any incident angles and any polarization. This code accepts files saved by the collinear code but it is about eight times slower. [Documentation](https://mcgrating.com/docs/chandezon/introduction.html) ### Chandezon Crossed The crossed grating C-methods code deals with a multilayer 2D grating structure in the conical mounting. [Documentation](https://mcgrating.com/docs/chandezon-crossed/introduction.html) Since the 2026-05-25 release the three codes have a [Stochastic C-method](https://mcgrating.com/features/stochastic-c-method.html) option [[26](https://mcgrating.com/references.html#ref-26)], which can improve convergence for deep gratings. [The C method, explained →](https://mcgrating.com/features/c-method.html) Each code is licensed separately, in a Full and a Light edition. The [pricing page](https://mcgrating.com/pricing.html) has the complete price list, the multi-code discount and the ordering steps; the [download page](https://mcgrating.com/download.html) has the current release, 2026-05-25, which runs in demo mode without a license key. ## What the codes compute Generally the grating software is intended to calculate the diffraction efficiencies (power) and complex amplitude (module, phase or real, imagine part) of diffracted waves in superstrate (cover) and substrate under incidence of a plane wave from the cover. Also a complex field and power flow components in the structure and ambient medium can be calculated. If the structure hasn't a grating region at all the software considers this structure as a simple multilayer stack that has only reflected and transmitted waves (zero diffraction orders) and the calculations became very fast. - The codes calculate the interaction of a plane electromagnetic wave with the multilayer corrugated structure providing the efficiencies (complex amplitude and power) of all reflected and transmitted diffraction waves. - A field distribution and power flow in the multilayer structure and ambient media. - A waveguide resonances search (1D codes). - Reflection and transmission analysis of a finite Gauss beam (1D codes). - A powerful optimization in multidimensional space for sophisticated criterion function. - General and 3D graphics for 1D and 2D scanning results presentation. - A refractive index materials catalog. - Implemented advanced features for obtaining results, scanning and optimization. MC Grating Software is a solution of the diffraction grating analysis and design problems for multilayer periodic 1D and 2D grating structures: multilayer grating filters and mirrors, integrated optics grating couplers, biochemistry sensing chips, wire grid polarizers and general multilayer structures. ## Features MC Grating Software package is designed to run on any Windows© OS. The interface is written in Delphi, while the most critical matrix routines (LAPACK) are taken from Intel® MKL (version 2024.0.1 since the 2024-05-23 release). The routines in MKL are hand optimized by exploiting today's multicore and many core processors, wider vector units and other processor architectural features. ### Resonance search For 1D grating a search of incident plane wave resonance with a waveguide mode supported by the multilayer grating structure is available. This function includes search of double resonances in two different diffraction orders. The search results are effective refractive indexes of structure modes, resonance positions, resonance width and associated with the resonance poles parameters [[13](https://mcgrating.com/references.html#ref-13)] in a complex plane with the wave vector projection on a grating and radiation coefficient as a coordinates. Poles parameters are accessible trough an "Analysis" window. [More on resonance search →](https://mcgrating.com/features/resonance-search.html) ### Analysis of a finite beam The Analysis option for 1D grating is intended to investigate a finite incident Gaussian beam reflection and transmission. Calculation is based on two different approaches: Fast Fourier transform of diffraction efficiencies angular scan or the poles approach if in advance a resonance search was fulfilled. [The Analysis dialog →](https://mcgrating.com/docs/common/analysis.html) ### Optimization The multidimensional optimization method is based on the approach suggested by Davidon (1959), and further developed by Fletcher and Powell. The Davidon – Fletcher – Powell method [[14](https://mcgrating.com/references.html#ref-14)] is a Quasi-Newton Method also known as a Variable Metrics Method. Almost every incident wave, and structure parameters, including refractive indexes, can be set as variables. There isn't any restriction on optimization search area except a physical meaning of the variable parameters (for example a layer thickness can not be negative). Several methods of a criterion function construction allow solving variety of design and inverse structure reconstruction problems. [More on optimization →](https://mcgrating.com/features/optimization.html) ### Modes In addition all three Modal codes include an option to analyze the modes (effective indexes and field distribution) in every layer including cross coupling and scattering matrix coefficients, and a Modes Interference window that shows the zero-order reflection and transmission carried by a chosen group of modes as the layer thickness changes [[27](https://mcgrating.com/references.html#ref-27)]. [The modes-interference study →](https://mcgrating.com/modes-interference.html) ### Materials The Main material catalog contains dispersion data of many dielectric, metal and semiconductor materials. For the user convenience a frequently used materials can be copied into a custom catalog. The user can edit any material in this catalog or add any new material. [The Material dialog →](https://mcgrating.com/docs/common/material.html) ### Interface All codes have almost the same interface adapted for particular code possibilities. The main form is a container for independent project editor windows. Editor window may display a text with a structure parameters or a text table with results of calculation. The graphic tools take data from the results text table. This seems to be reasonable because the user has an opportunity to edit the data and display in a graphic form a saved data files. The user can change the results precision and diffraction orders of interest displayed in the text table without repeating calculation because a complete result data is kept in a PC memory. The structure parameters can be edited as from the text window or from dialog window "Settings". Dialog windows are also used to access any other options. ### Python interface and JSON output Since 2021 the codes write their results as JSON as well as text, and Modal Crossed can be driven from Python. Neither is in the 2018 help; both are described on their feature pages: [Python interface](https://mcgrating.com/features/python-api.html), [JSON output](https://mcgrating.com/features/json-output.html). ### Where it has been used The MC Grating Software were successfully used for designing biosensors [[15](https://mcgrating.com/references.html#ref-15),[16](https://mcgrating.com/references.html#ref-16)], selective ordinary [[17](https://mcgrating.com/references.html#ref-17)] and grating [[18](https://mcgrating.com/references.html#ref-18),[24](https://mcgrating.com/references.html#ref-24)] mirrors and broadband reflective gratings [[19](https://mcgrating.com/references.html#ref-19)] for laser pulse compression. ## Editions ### Light edition The MC Grating Software also has the Light edition which price is four times lower than price of the Full edition. This edition is intended to calculate only diffraction efficiencies without additional options like: Analysis, Optimization, Fields, Resonances, Slider and Modes. ### Demo mode Both installers, Full and Light, work in demo mode without a valid license key. Demo mode has only one restriction: it sets all refractive indexes multiple to 0.5. For this reason a material catalog can be used only as a reference and refractive indexes can not be set as a variable parameters in optimization procedure. Nevertheless demo mode retains enough flexibility to serve for education and training needs. After obtaining a valid license key the software works without this restriction. [Download the demo](https://mcgrating.com/download.html) [Prices and licensing](https://mcgrating.com/pricing.html)