Method and system for displaying 3D images

A display system for presenting a holographic image to a viewer, comprising:

• a coherent light source, a display element, and a computing device operatively coupled to the coherent light source and the display element, wherein the coherent light source is configured to emit light that enters the display element from a side corresponding to the viewer, and wherein the display element comprises a liquid crystal layer a partially-transmissive-partially-reflective layer, and a retarder layer that is separate from the liquid crystal layer and is configured to modify a polarization of an incoming and outgoing light to make the outgoing light pass through a guiding element without a polarization mismatch with the guiding element,
• wherein the computing device is configured to provide a control signal that causes the display element to display the holographic image, wherein the liquid crystal layer is configured to receive the light emitted from the coherent light source and be controlled by the control signal to modulate a phase of the light to generate the holographic image, and wherein the partially-transmissive-partially-reflective layer reflects the light received from the liquid crystal layer back through the liquid crystal layer to the viewer.