We introduce and demonstrate a new holographic recording technique based on birefringent prisms for creating polarization gratings (PGs). Conventional holographic arrangements for creating PGs consist of several polarization and collimating optics that are carefully aligned with each other, and often require substantial physical space. Both the size and the relative distance between these optics increase for large exposure areas, that limit the range of grating period achievable. Moreover, the cost and complexity associated with the mounting of the several elements also increases, and therefore such approaches are not viable for large area PGs and large volume manufacturing. To overcome the above limitations, we propose new approach using multiple polarizing prisms to record PGs that is compact, scalable for large areas, and enables easy tuning of the grating period by simple rotation of at most two elements.

Date Published: 9 February 2012
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 8281, Practical Holography XXVI: Materials and Applications, 82810R (9 February 2012); doi: 10.1117/12.913952

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8281:
Practical Holography XXVI: Materials and Applications
Hans I. Bjelkhagen; V. Michael Bove Jr., Editor(s)