{
  "abstract": "We derive the angular resolution limit of an augmented-reality (AR) waveguide combiner from guided mode theory. A slab of finite thickness supports only a discrete set of total-internal-reflection (TIR) angles, giving an angular resolution that worsens with thinner waveguides and smaller TIR angles. At 500~$μ$m thickness the resolution is worse than the 1 arcmin (60 ppd) acuity target over most of the usable TIR range, and reaching 1 arcmin for TIR < 42$^\\circ$ requires a substrate thicker than 1 mm. The limit is washed out by a source linewidth above $\\sim$0.1~nm or a thickness variation above $\\sim$100~nm across the pupil-replication period, but only partially by pupil truncation and not at all by out-coupling loss. LED- and micro-LED-based displays are therefore unaffected, owing to their broad spectra, whereas a narrow-linewidth laser-based display in a thin, uniform waveguide is subject to this limit.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.09527",
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Guohua Wei"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fy3rjnjvpeemt.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.09527",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "fy3rjnjvpeemt",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.09527",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.optics"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.09527",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-09",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fy3rjnjvpeemt.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:29:06Z",
      "native_id": "2610.09527",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.09527"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.optics",
      "subfield": "optics-photonics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Angular resolution limit of augmented reality waveguides from guided mode theory",
  "title_text": "Angular resolution limit of augmented reality waveguides from guided mode theory",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:29:06Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fy3rjnjvpeemt",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}