Iterative technique for analysis of periodic structures at oblique incidence in the finite-difference time-domain method

Normal incidence of a plane electromagnetic wave on a periodical structure can be simulated by the finite-difference time-domain method using a single unit cell with periodical boundary conditions imposed on its borders. For the oblique wave incidence, the boundary conditions would contain time delays and thus are difficult to implement in the time-domain method. We propose a method of oblique incidence simulation, based on an iterative algorithm. The accuracy of this method is demonstrated by comparing it with the layer Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker frequency-domain method for calculation of transmission spectra of a monolayered photonic crystal. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.