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-theta/D-theta + 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-theta/D-theta + 90) structures with experiments. (C) 2021 Optical Society of America

Automated summary

This study provides a detailed investigation of transmissive polarization volume holograms, clarifying their geometry, physics, and optical responses through FDTD simulation and experimental validation. The configuration called Slanted T-PVH is found to have the advantageous property of maintaining circular output polarization states, which was validated with experiments.