Aperture multiplier with depolarizer

An optical arrangement comprising:

• (a) an optical waveguide having first and second mutually parallel planar faces and an end surface;
• and
• (b) a coupling prism optically coupled to said end surface for coupling in light corresponding to a collimated image so as to propagate within said optical waveguide by internal reflection at said first and second faces,
• wherein said coupling prism provides a coupling surface that is parallel to said second face and external to said optical waveguide such that there is a step between said coupling surface and an entrance aperture of said optical waveguide, said light corresponding to a collimated image illuminating said entrance aperture of said optical waveguide both directly and after internal reflection at said coupling surface,
• and wherein said coupling prism is integrated with a polarizing beam splitter prism having:
• (i) an image input surface;
• (ii) reflective collimating optics deployed on a second surface of said polarized beam splitter prism, said reflective collimating optics having an optical axis;
• and
• (iii) a polarized beam splitter deployed on an obliquely inclined plane so as to direct image illumination from said image input surface towards said reflective collimating optics,
• wherein said optical axis of said reflective collimating optics is inclined relative to said coupling surface such that the light corresponding to an image injected at said image input surface and reflected by said polarized beam splitter towards said reflective collimating optics passes through said polarized beam splitter and enters said waveguide entrance aperture both directly and after internal reflection at said coupling surface.