Vector beams generated by tunable liquid crystal polarization holograms

Two optically coupled nematic liquid crystal (NLC) polarization holograms (PHs) enable nearly 100% generation efficiency for vector beams (VBs) with spatially variant phase and polarization. Adopting a spatial light modulator assisted holographic approach, the PHs are recorded in the photoaligning substrates of the NLC cell and amplified by the NLC bulk. Owing to negligible NLC absorption at the visible and near infrared wavelengths and the ability to electrically adjust its optical birefringence, a single device allows us to generate VBs with the highest possible efficiency at any wavelength in the transparency range. In particular, we report the generation of VBs with an efficiency of 96% at a wavelength of 633 nm.