POLARIZATION-SELECTIVE COMPUTER-GENERATED HOLOGRAMS

We demonstrate polarization-selective computer-generated holograms with independent phase profiles for the two orthogonal linear polarizations. The holograms are made of two surface-relief-etched birefringent substrates joined face to face. We describe their design and fabrication and present experimental results for dual binary-phase computer-generated holograms fabricated in lithium niobate. The first-order diffraction efficiency varied from 6% to 25%, with as much as 40:1 contrast between polarizations. Such elements can be used in compact optoelectronic systems or combined with electro-optic polarization rotators to make electrically controlled optical elements.