Abstract: An optical component includes: a multilayer inorganic thin-film on a substrate, wherein the inorganic thin-film is formed by laminating a plurality of layers made of silicon oxide and a plurality of layers made of metal oxide, the metal oxide is metal oxide containing any one of zirconium, tantalum, and titanium, the layers made of silicon oxide include a low-density silicon oxide layer and a high-density silicon oxide layer having a density higher than the low-density silicon oxide layer, the outermost layer of the inorganic thin-film is the low-density silicon oxide layer, and the surface roughness of the outermost layer of the inorganic thin-film is equal to or greater than 0.55 nm and equal to or smaller than 0.7 nm.

Abstract: An optical device is configured such that the device includes an inorganic light-transmissive base material and an organic antireflection layer, which is provided on a principal surface of the light-transmissive base material and contains an organosilicon compound, an epoxy group-containing organic compound, and hollow silica, and the light-transmissive base material and at least one of the organosilicon compound and the epoxy group-containing organic compound are covalently bonded to each other. Since dirt, dust, etc. do not adhere to a principal surface of the light-transmissive base material during film formation, the occurrence of a defect in the organic antireflection layer can be prevented. The organic antireflection layer has a larger contact angle than an antireflection layer made of an inorganic material, and therefore has a higher dust-proof effect than an inorganic antireflection layer, and thus, dirt, dust, etc. hardly adhere thereto.

Abstract: An optical device includes an inorganic light-transmissive base material, a hard coat layer, which is provided on a principal surface of the light-transmissive base material and is harder than the light-transmissive base material, and an organic antireflection layer, which is provided on a principal surface of the hard coat layer and contains an organosilicon compound, an epoxy group-containing organic compound, and hollow silica. The hard coat layer and at least one of the organosilicon compound and the epoxy group-containing organic compound are covalently bonded to each other. The occurrence of a defect in the organic antireflection layer can be prevented. The organic antireflection layer has a higher dust-proof effect than an inorganic antireflection film, and therefore, dirt, dust, etc. hardly adhere thereto.

Abstract: An optical component includes: a multilayer inorganic thin-film on a substrate, wherein the inorganic thin-film is formed by laminating a plurality of layers made of silicon oxide and a plurality of layers made of metal oxide, the metal oxide is metal oxide containing any one of zirconium, tantalum, and titanium, the layers made of silicon oxide include a low-density silicon oxide layer and a high-density silicon oxide layer having a density higher than the low-density silicon oxide layer, the outermost layer of the inorganic thin-film is the low-density silicon oxide layer, and the surface roughness of the outermost layer of the inorganic thin-film is equal to or greater than 0.55 nm and equal to or smaller than 0.7 nm.

Abstract: A polarization conversion element includes: a first transparent member, having: a light incident surface; a light exit surface almost parallel to the light incident surface; a first coating-forming surface formed to have a predetermined angle with the light incident surface and the light exit surface; a second coating-forming surface formed to have a predetermined angle with the light incident surface and the light exit surface, the second coating-forming surface being almost parallel to the first coating-forming surface; a polarization separation coating formed on the first coating-forming surface; and a reflective coating formed on the second coating-forming surface; a plurality of second transparent members, having: a light incident surface formed on a same plane on which the light incident surface of the first transparent member is formed; and a light exit surface formed on a same plane on which the light exit surface of the first transparent member is formed, the plurality of second transparent members b

Abstract: The present invention provides a polarized light splitting device including two right triangular prisms bonded to each other at inclined surfaces thereof via a polarized light splitting coating disposed between the inclined surfaces, in which the polarized light splitting coating includes a first polarized light splitting coating layer formed by alternately laminating a first low refractive index coating made of a first low refractive index material having a compressive stress and a high refractive index coating made of a high refractive index material and a second polarized light splitting coating layer formed by alternately laminating a second low refractive index coating made of a second low refractive index material having a tensile stress and the high refractive index coating.

Abstract: A wavelength division element includes a first filter and a second filter. The first filter has incident angle-to-transmission wavelength characteristics and separates multiplexed lights in a plurality of wavelength bands into first lights that are in a first wavelength band and first reflected lights. The first filter allows the first lights to pass through in a first direction and reflects the first reflected lights in a second direction. The second filter is located in the second direction and separates the first reflected lights into second lights that are in a second wavelength band and second reflected lights. The second filter allows the second lights to pass through in a third direction and reflects the second reflected lights in a fourth direction.

Abstract: A numerical aperture controlling filter, including: a first region that allows, when a laser beam having a different wavelength is incident on the numerical aperture controlling filter, a transmission of laser beams having all the wavelengths; and a second region that blocks a transmission of a laser beam having a predefined wavelength, wherein: different materials are used for outermost layers of a first optical thin film that is formed in the first region and a second optical thin film that is formed in the second region; and an optical path length of either of the first optical thin film or the second optical thin film is adjusted by means of etching after depositing the first optical thin film and the second optical thin film.

Abstract: A wavelength division element includes a first filter and a second filter. The first filter has incident angle-to-transmission wavelength characteristics and separates multiplexed lights in a plurality of wavelength bands into first lights that are in a first wavelength band and first reflected lights. The first filter allows the first lights to pass through in a first direction and reflects the first reflected lights in a second direction. The second filter is located in the second direction and separates the first reflected lights into second lights that are in a second wavelength band and second reflected lights. The second filter allows the second lights to pass through in a third direction and reflects the second reflected lights in a fourth direction.