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TIR in Waveguide


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Hi Support team,

In your example 'Modelling a holographic waveguide for Augmented Reality (AR) systems: part 1' you model the waveguide itself (not the hologram) with mirrors (see below marked in blue). However, real waveguides are based on TIR phenomena, so why not rely on TIR and optimize the system, so AOI within the waveguide would be larger than the critical angle of AIR-GLASS? 

Thanks,

Tali M.

 

Best answer by Kevin Scales

Hi Tali,

You are correct about the physics, but the sequential ray tracer makes various underlying assumptions about the system, and TIR is thus treated as an error. The rays are not going in the manner they are assumed to be intended, so they are terminated. The use of the MIRROR avoids that by making a deliberate reflection.

If you work this same model in non-sequential mode with core and cladding glasses of the appropriate indices of refraction, you can see TIR modelled correctly.

Best,

Kevin

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Kevin Scales
En-Lightened
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  • En-Lightened
  • 185 replies
  • Answer
  • March 10, 2021

Hi Tali,

You are correct about the physics, but the sequential ray tracer makes various underlying assumptions about the system, and TIR is thus treated as an error. The rays are not going in the manner they are assumed to be intended, so they are terminated. The use of the MIRROR avoids that by making a deliberate reflection.

If you work this same model in non-sequential mode with core and cladding glasses of the appropriate indices of refraction, you can see TIR modelled correctly.

Best,

Kevin


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  • Author
  • Infrared
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  • March 11, 2021

Great! Thanks, Kevin


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