Polarization recycling in organic solid crystal pupil expanders

An optical element comprising:

• a first waveguide body configured to guide light having a first polarization by total internal reflection from an input end of the first waveguide body to an output end of the first waveguide body;
• and
• a quarter waveplate-mirror stack located proximate to the input end of the first waveguide body, wherein the quarter waveplate-mirror stack is configured to receive light having a second polarization from the first waveguide body, change the received light having the second polarization to received light having the first polarization, and redirect the received light having the first polarization into the first waveguide body.

An optical element comprising:

• a first waveguide body configured to guide light having a first polarization from an input end of the first waveguide body to an output end of the first waveguide body;
• and
• a second waveguide body overlying the first waveguide body and configured to guide light having a second polarization from an input end of the second waveguide body to an output end of the second waveguide body, wherein the first waveguide body comprises a first organic solid crystal material and the second waveguide body comprises a second organic solid crystal material.