HOLOGRAPHIC DIFFUSERS - POLARIZATION EFFECTS

In some applications of diffusers, it-is desirable to minimize the dif fuse back reflection of light. Use of polarized light is one way to re duce this back reflection. To that end, the effect of diffusers on pol arized light is studied experimentally. Diffusers based on ground glas s, white plastic containing scatterers, and holographic optical elemen ts are considered. The ground glass and holographic optical element (H OE) diffusers preserve polarization in the diffusion process, but the white plastic does not. Diffuse back reflection from ground glass or h olographic diffusers can be significantly reduced using an isolator ba sed on a quarter-wave plate.