<title>Melt dynamics in surface processing with laser radiation: calculations and applications</title>

The purpose of this paper is more to stimulate a discussion than to set out well proven and undisputed facts. A great many papers are being published on the subject of diffracting optics and these usually fall into one of two classes: those concerned with bulk or with surface relief components. In most cases the authors have experience with one or other technology and often tend to describe the benefits of their own advances without fully putting them into the context of what is offered by alternative technologies. When comparing different forms of diffracting component it is also necessary to compare them with the equivalent conventional ones and to compare all relevant aspects of performance and cost. This critique is intended to be as impartial as possible but it must be admitted that the author's main experience is with surface relief technology.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.