The invention provides a light generating
system comprising one or more light generating devices, a
luminescent material, a diffuser element, a polarization changing element, central
optics, and a
control system, wherein: (A) the one or more light generating devices are configured to generate device light; wherein the one or more light generating devices comprise light sources selected from a
laser diode and a
superluminescent diode; wherein the device light received by the central
optics comprises a controllable polarization; (B) the
luminescent material is configured to convert at least part of the device light received by the
luminescent material into luminescent material light; (C) the diffuser element is configured to diffuse at least part of the device light received by the diffuser element thereby providing diffused device light while maintaining at least part of the polarization; (D) the polarization changing element is configured in an
optical path of the device light between the central
optics and the diffuser element; (E) the central optics comprises (i) a central optics polarizing
beam splitter, and (ii) a central optics dichroic
beam splitter; wherein the central optics are configured to transmit and / or reflect device light, diffused device light, and luminescent material light, received by the central optics in dependence of one or more of their polarizations and their spectral power distributions; (F) the
control system is configured to control the polarization of the device light received by the central optics; (G) the light generating
system is configured to provide
system light comprising one or more of diffused device light and luminescent material light; and wherein the light generating system is configured such that in a first operational mode of the light generating system (a) at least part of the device light irradiates the luminescent material via the central optics, and the luminescent material light escapes from the light generating system via the central optics, and (b) at least part of the device light irradiates the diffuser element via the central optics, and at least part of the diffused device light escapes from the light generating system via the central optics.