Challenges and latest achievements of optical glass development for AR waveguides

Waveguide technology is widely believed to constitute the most promising approach to realize affordable and fully immersive Augmented Reality (AR) / Mixed Reality (MR) devices. For all major technology platforms (diffractive, reflective, or holographic), specialty grade high index optical glass is the central component to achieve some of the key features of AR devices, such as field of view, MTF, or weight. We will provide insights into SCHOTT’s roadmap for dedicated glass development for the AR sector and discuss the latest achievement with high relevance for the industry. It is a game of trade-offs between the desired properties to produce an optical glass which enables the entry of AR devices into the consumer market.