Abstract

Subject of study. Optical elements combined based on holographic optical elements and a lightguide are studied. Aim of study. The aim of the study is the development of compact optical systems to convert a collimated beam with Gaussian energy distribution from a coherent radiation source into a uniform homogeneous cross-sectional beam with enlarged dimensions. Method. Coherent radiation is coupled into and outcoupled from the lightguide using holographic optical elements. The lightguide and the matched scatterer create a multitude of secondary point sources. These sources combine through interference to generate a total field with the necessary energy distribution and aperture. Main results. The authors propose several modifications for the combined optical elements based on holographic optical elements and a lightguide. The total efficiency of these elements is 40%–45% (the diffraction efficiency of individual elements is 80%–85%) with a beam uniformity of approximately 80% and a decrease in speckle contrast to the level of 20%–30%. Practical significance. The proposed technical solutions with regard to the development of combined optical elements based on lightguides and holographic optical elements can significantly reduce the energy consumption, dimensions, and weight of visualization systems, specifically wearable virtual and augmented reality devices.

© 2023 Optica Publishing Group

Speckle Reduction by Simulation of Partially Coherent Object Illumination in Holography

Raoul F. van Ligten
Appl. Opt. 12(2) 255-265 (1973)

Speckle Reduction Using Multiple Tones of Illumination

Nicholas George and Atul Jain
Appl. Opt. 12(6) 1202-1212 (1973)

Compact red-green-blue beam illuminator and expander

Revital Shechter, Nandor Bokor, Yaakov Amitai, and Asher A. Friesem
Appl. Opt. 41(7) 1229-1235 (2002)

Efficient speckle reduction for a laser illuminating on a micro-vibrated paper screen

Shih-Yu Tu, Hoang Yan Lin, and Min-Ching Lin
Appl. Opt. 53(22) E38-E46 (2014)

Efficient reduction of speckle noise in Optical Coherence Tomography

Maciej Szkulmowski, Iwona Gorczynska, Daniel Szlag, Marcin Sylwestrzak, Andrzej Kowalczyk, and Maciej Wojtkowski
Opt. Express 20(2) 1337-1359 (2012)