Rigorous coupled-wave analysis of liquid crystal polarization gratings

Breaking the in-coupling efficiency limit in waveguide-based AR displays with polarization volume gratings

Augmented reality (AR) displays, heralded as the next-generation platform for spatial computing, metaverse, and digital twins, empower users to perceive digital images overlaid with real-world environment, fostering a deeper level of human-digital interactions. With the rapid evolution of couplers, waveguide-based AR displays have streamlined the entire system, boasting a slim form factor and high optical performance. However, challenges persist in the waveguide combiner, including low optical efficiency and poor image uniformity, significantly hindering the long-term usage and user experience. In this paper, we first analyze the root causes of the low optical efficiency and poor uniformity in waveguide-based AR displays. We then discover and elucidate an anomalous polarization conversion phenomenon inherent to polarization volume gratings (PVGs) when the incident light direction does not satisfy the Bragg condition. This new property is effectively leveraged to circumvent the tradeoff between in-coupling efficiency and eyebox uniformity. Through feasibility demonstration experiments, we measure the light leakage in multiple PVGs with varying thicknesses using a laser source and a liquid-crystal-on-silicon light engine. The experiment corroborates the polarization conversion phenomenon, and the results align with simulation well. To explore the potential of such a polarization conversion phenomenon further, we design and simulate a waveguide display with a 50° field of view. Through achieving first-order polarization conversion in a PVG, the in-coupling efficiency and uniformity are improved by 2 times and 2.3 times, respectively, compared to conventional couplers. This groundbreaking discovery holds immense potential for revolutionizing next-generation waveguide-based AR displays, promising a higher efficiency and superior image uniformity.

Simulation of gradient period polarization volume gratings for augmented reality displays

Augmented reality (AR) displays are gaining attention as next-generation intelligent display technologies. Diffractive waveguide technologies are progressively becoming the AR display industry's preferred option. Gradient period polarization volume holographic gratings (PVGs), which are considered to have the potential to expand the field of view (FOV) of waveguide display systems due to their wide bandwidth diffraction characteristics, have been proposed as coupling elements for diffraction waveguide systems in recent years. Here, what we believe to be a novel modeling method for gradient period PVGs is proposed by incorporating grating stacking and scattering analysis utilizing rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) theory. The diffraction efficiency and polarization response were extensively explored using this simulation model. In addition, a dual-layer full-color diffractive waveguide imaging simulation using proposed gradient period PVGs is accomplished in Zemax software using a self-compiled dynamic link library (DLL), achieving a 53° diagonal FOV at a 16:9 aspect ratio. This work furthers the development of PVGs by providing unique ideas for the field of view design of AR display.

Rotating twisted templates for imprinting polarization gratings with a sub- to dozen-micron period

In this Letter, we report and experimentally demonstrate what is to our knowledge a novel scheme for imprinting polarization gratings (PGs) with a pair of templates. Compared with the traditional method that a single template can only imprint PG with a single period, cascading two templates can control the period of imprinted PG at will. However, the low diffraction efficiency is inevitably caused by cascading two templates. Therefore, a rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) is adopted to design a multi-twisted template to address this challenge. As a proof of concept, two multi-twisted templates with a period of 1.6 μm were fabricated, and PGs with a large period range from 0.4 to 48.6 μm were successfully imprinted. The proposed scheme is expected to enable rapid, robust, and high-quality mass production of beam steering, large-angle deflectors, and diffractive optical couplers.

Theoretical efficiency limit of diffractive input couplers in augmented reality waveguides

Considerable efforts have been devoted to augmented reality (AR) displays to enable the immersive user experience in the wearable glasses form factor. Transparent waveguide combiners offer a compact solution to guide light from the microdisplay to the front of eyes while maintaining the see-through optical path to view the real world simultaneously. To deliver a realistic virtual image with low power consumption, the waveguide combiners need to have high efficiency and good image quality. One important limiting factor for the efficiency of diffractive waveguide combiners is the out-coupling problem in the input couplers, where the guided light interacts with the input gratings again and get partially out-coupled. In this study, we introduce a theoretical model to deterministically find the upper bound of the input efficiency of a uniform input grating, constrained only by Lorentz reciprocity and energy conservation. Our model considers the polarization management at the input coupler and can work for arbitrary input polarization state ensemble. Our model also provides the corresponding characteristics of the input coupler, such as the grating diffraction efficiencies and the Jones matrix of the polarization management components, to achieve the optimal input efficiency. Equipped with this theoretical model, we investigate how the upper bound of input efficiency varies with geometric parameters including the waveguide thickness, the projector pupil size, and the projector pupil relief distance. Our study shines light on the fundamental efficiency limit of input couplers in diffractive waveguide combiners and highlights the benefits of polarization control in improving the input efficiency.

Optical imprinting subwavelength-period liquid crystal polarization gratings with dual-twist templates

In this Letter, we report a dual-twist template imprinting method to fabricate subwavelength-period liquid crystal polarization gratings (LCPGs). In other words, the period of the template must be reduced to 800 nm-2 µm, or even smaller. To overcome the inherent problem that the diffraction efficiency shrinks as the period decreases, the dual-twist templates were optimized by rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA). With the help of the rotating Jones matrix to measure the twist angle and thickness of the LC film, the optimized templates were fabricated eventually, and the diffraction efficiencies were up to 95%. Therefore, subwavelength-period LCPGs with a period of 400-800 nm were imprinted experimentally. Our proposed dual-twist template provides the possibility for fast, low-cost, and mass fabrication of large-angle deflectors and diffractive optical waveguides for near-eye displays.

Photoalignment of sub-micrometer periodic liquid crystal polarization grating by using the optical imprinting method

Photoalignment of liquid crystal polarization grating based on optical imprinting is a promising technique for polarization grating mass production. However, when the period of the optical imprinting grating is in the sub-micrometer level, the zero-order energy from the master grating will become high, and it will strongly affect the photoalignment quality. This paper proposes a double-twisted polarization grating structure to eliminate the zero-order disturbance of master grating and gives the design method. Based on the designed results, a master grating was prepared, and the optically imprinted photoalignment of polarization grating with a period of 0.5μm was fabricated. This method has the advantages of high efficiency and significantly greater environmental tolerance than the traditional polarization holographic photoalignment methods. It has the potential to be used for large-area polarization holographic gratings production.

Analysis of optical propagation characteristics of the ultra-long period grating using RCWA

There have been significant research and analyses on the diffraction efficiency and characteristics of spectral grating with a wavelength-scale period. However, thus far an analysis on a diffraction grating with an ultra-long pitch over several hundred times of the wavelength (>100µm) and a very deep groove over dozens of micrometers has not been performed. We analyzed the diffraction efficiency of these gratings by using the rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) method and confirmed that the RCWA analytic results correspond well to the actual experimental results on the wide-angle beam-spreading phenomenon. In addition, because a long-period grating with a deep groove results in a small diffraction angle with relatively uniform efficiency, it is possible to convert a point-like distribution to a linear distribution for a short working distance and a discrete distribution for a very long working distance. We believe that a wide-angle line laser with a long grating period can be used in various applications, such as level detectors, precision measurements, multi-point light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) light sources, and security systems.

Fabrication of Polarization Grating on N-Benzylideneaniline Polymer Liquid Crystal and Control of Diffraction Beam

Photoresponsive photoalignable liquid crystalline polymers composed of phenyl benzoate terminated with N-benzylideneaniline were evaluated. These polymers are capable of axis-selective photoreaction, photoinduced orientation, and surface relief grating formation. Polarization holography using an He-Cd laser beam at a wavelength of 325 nm demonstrated the formation of a surface relief grating with a molecularly oriented structure based on periodic light-induced reorientation and molecular motion. Electrical switching of diffracted light using an electric field response of twisted-nematic cell containing a low-molecular-weight liquid crystal in combination was also demonstrated.

Realizing the imaging simulation of reflective polarization volume gratings

Near-eye holographic waveguide display system using novel reflective polarized volume gratings (RPVG) have lately gotten a lot of interest. However, from polarization characteristics to imaging simulation, there is no systematic approach based on RPVG. Here, a full methodology for solving this problem using the rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) model is presented. This self-built RCWA model is used to examine the optical behavior of RPVG. This excellent portability of the RCWA model makes it possible for RPVG as a diffractive optical element, which is integrated into the commercial optical software Zemax via a self-compiled dynamic link library (DLL), and a full-color imaging simulation of the based-RPVG waveguide display system is obtained. Our work provides an instructive imaging analysis method using the RPVG for holographic waveguide display.

Augmented reality and virtual reality displays: emerging technologies and future perspectives

With rapid advances in high-speed communication and computation, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are emerging as next-generation display platforms for deeper human-digital interactions. Nonetheless, to simultaneously match the exceptional performance of human vision and keep the near-eye display module compact and lightweight imposes unprecedented challenges on optical engineering. Fortunately, recent progress in holographic optical elements (HOEs) and lithography-enabled devices provide innovative ways to tackle these obstacles in AR and VR that are otherwise difficult with traditional optics. In this review, we begin with introducing the basic structures of AR and VR headsets, and then describing the operation principles of various HOEs and lithography-enabled devices. Their properties are analyzed in detail, including strong selectivity on wavelength and incident angle, and multiplexing ability of volume HOEs, polarization dependency and active switching of liquid crystal HOEs, device fabrication, and properties of micro-LEDs (light-emitting diodes), and large design freedoms of metasurfaces. Afterwards, we discuss how these devices help enhance the AR and VR performance, with detailed description and analysis of some state-of-the-art architectures. Finally, we cast a perspective on potential developments and research directions of these photonic devices for future AR and VR displays.

Recent Advances in Photoalignment Liquid Crystal Polarization Gratings and Their Applications

Liquid crystal (LC) circular polarization gratings (PGs), also known as Pancharatnam–Berry (PB) phase deflectors, are diffractive waveplates with linearly changed optical anisotropy axes. Due to the high diffraction efficiency, polarization selectivity character, and simple fabrication process, photoalignment LC PGs have been widely studied and developed especially in polarization management and beam split. In this review paper, we analyze the physical principles, show the exposure methods and fabrication process, and present relevant promising applications in photonics and imaging optics.

Planar liquid crystal polarization optics for near-eye displays

As a promising candidate for next-generation mobile platforms, virtual reality and augmented reality have the potential to revolutionize the way we perceive and interact with various types of digital information. In the meantime, ultrathin planar liquid crystal polarization optics are enabling a new evolutionary trend in near-eye displays. A recent invited review paper published in eLight provides an insightful review on liquid crystal optical elements and their applications toward AR and VR.

Closer look at transmissive polarization volume holograms: geometry, physics, and experimental validation

In this work, we took a closer look at transmissive polarization volume holograms (T-PVH) to provide clarifications on their geometry, physics, and optical responses by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation and experimental validation. First, we introduced the four possible geometries of T-PVH and simulated their optical responses in terms of diffraction efficiency, polarization selectivity, and polarization output. It is shown that the configuration we called "Slanted T-PVH (B-θ/D-θ+90)," where the director is perpendicular to the Bragg planes, has the advantageous property of maintaining circular output polarization states. For this configuration, a detailed simulation of spectral, angular, and polarization responses was completed. Finally, we validated the FDTD simulation results of the Slanted T-PVH (B-θ/D-θ+90) structures with experiments.