Polarization diffractive optics with liquid crystal displays

I. MORENO; J. CAMPOS; M. YZUEL; CLAUDIO IEMMI; A. VARGAS

Reykjavik, Islandia

Workshop; 6th International Workshop On Information Optics; 2007

We present the theoretical analysis and experimental realization of polarization diffractive optics, i.e. optical diffractive elements based on the spatial modification of the state of polarization. We present a combined formalism between the classical Fourier optics and Jones matrix calculus for polarization optics. This formalism permits to analyze and design spatially variant polarization diffractive elements, and therefore extend the scalar Fourier optics theory to a vectorial theory. Both the intensity and the local state of polarization distributions in the Fraunhofer approximation are analyzed. We present the design of different diffractive polarization elements including polarization pupils, or diffractive masks designed to generate polarization vortices. Finally we also present the experimental realization of these polarization diffractive elements with a twisted nematic liquid crystal display (TN-LCD). We discuss the required polarization configuration of the display and experimentally demonstrate the polarization / diffraction properties of some polarization diffractive elements.