New way to describe diffraction from optical disks

An efficient decomposition of the diffraction pattern from optical disks that yields insight into the origin and the characteristics of various signals is described. The Babinet principle is used to separate components that describe the data signal, servo signals, and three types of cross talk. The construction of a basis set that yields efficient calculation for optimization studies is described. Two media types are considered as examples. Several applications are also described, including an explanation for the origin of the differential phase-detection tracking signal that is used with DVD-ROM media. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.