Polarization beam splitters using polarization diffraction gratings

We report a polarization beam splitter that uses polarization gratings writ ten onto a zero-twist nematic liquid-crystal display. We show three configu rations. The first two separate the diffracted light into two orthogonally polarized orders that are either linearly or circularly polarized. In the t hird configuration, we demonstrate a novel case for which the output is sep arated into two nonorthonormal polarization states. One component is linear ly polarized and the second is circularly polarized. (C) 2001 Optical Socie ty of America.