System and method for fabricating liquid crystal polarization holograms

A system, comprising:

• a light outputting element configured to output a first beam propagating toward a beam interference zone from a first side of the beam interference zone;
• a reflective assembly configured to reflect the first beam back as a second beam propagating toward the beam interference zone from a second side of the beam interference zone;
• and
• a lens assembly disposed between the light outputting element and the reflective assembly,
• wherein the lens assembly includes a transmissive spatial light modulator (“SLM”), and the reflective assembly includes a reflective SLM,
• wherein the first beam propagating in a space between the light outputting element and the reflective assembly has a first wavefront,
• wherein the second beam propagating in the same space between the light outputting element and the reflective assembly has a second wavefront,
• wherein the first wavefront is the same as the second wavefront, and
• wherein the first beam and the second beam interfere with one another within the beam interference zone to generate a polarization interference pattern.

A method, comprising:

• directing a first beam to propagate through a beam interference zone toward a reflective assembly, wherein the first beam propagates toward the beam interference zone from a first side of the beam interference zone;
• directing the first beam to propagate through a lens assembly toward the reflective assembly, wherein the lens assembly includes a diverging lens assembly or a transmissive spatial light modulator (“SLM”), and the reflective assembly includes a reflector having a curved reflective surface or a reflective SLM;
• and
• reflecting, by the reflective assembly, the first beam back toward the beam interference zone as a second beam, wherein the second beam propagates toward the beam interference zone from a second side of the beam interference zone,
• wherein the first beam propagating in a space between a light outputting element and the reflective assembly has a first wavefront,
• wherein the second beam propagating in the same space between the light outputting element and the reflective assembly has a second wavefront,
• wherein the first wavefront is the same as the second wavefront, and
• wherein the first beam and the second beam interfere with one another within the beam interference zone to generate a polarization interference pattern.