Diffraction gratings (manufacture)

Recent progress in the techniques of manufacture of spectroscopic diffraction gratings is described. Three main topics are discussed in detail; (i) the mechanical ruling of gratings, and the way in which the mechanical aspects of the ruling process affect the spectroscopic performance of the grating; (ii) the development of interference (or 'holographic') techniques for manufacturing gratings, and the relationship between ruled gratings and those made interferometrically; (iii) X-ray gratings for use at grazing incidence, and the different criteria that arise through the use of gratings in this way. The review was completed in April 1975.