Polarization volume grating with high efficiency and large diffraction angle

Abstract

We propose a polarization volume grating (PVG), which exhibits nearly 100% diffraction efficiency and large diffraction angle. Both reflective and transmissive PVGs can be configured depending on application preference. Such a PVG is polarization-sensitive so that it can split an incident unpolarized beam into two well-separated yet polarized beams. These outstanding features make PVG a strong candidate for photonic and display applications. To investigate and optimize the diffraction properties, we build a rigorous simulation model based on finite element method. To illustrate its potential applications, we propose a simple 2D/3D wearable display using a planar waveguide comprising of two reflective PVGs.