Hybrid polymer waveguide and methods for making the same

An augmented reality display system comprising:

• a waveguide comprising:
• an optically transmissive core layer having a major surface opposite an other major surface;
• and
• an optically transmissive auxiliary layer on the major surface, the auxiliary layer comprising:
• incoupling diffractive optical elements configured to direct, into the waveguide, at least a portion of light that is incident on the incoupling diffractive optical elements such that the directed light propagates in the waveguide;
• and
• outcoupling diffractive optical elements configured to extract, out of the waveguide, incoupled light that is propagating in the waveguide,
• wherein the auxiliary layer is thinner than the core layer and is formed of a material different from material forming the core layer,
• wherein the material forming the core layer has a refractive index greater than 1.65, and
• wherein at least one of the incoupling diffractive optical elements or the outcoupling diffractive optical elements include nanophotonic structures comprising lines of material and intervening indentations that are arranged between the lines of material and that extend completely through the auxiliary layer and partially into the core layer.