Abstract: An optical device capable of achieving desired polarization properties including a light source, incident-side polarizing element, optical modulating element, emission-side first polarizing element, and emission-side second polarizing element, the first and second polarizing elements each have a wire-grid structure and include a plurality of convex portions arranged on a transparent substrate and spaced apart from each other at a pitch shorter than the wavelength of light in the light source, the transmission axis of the first polarizing element relative to the transmission axis of the incident-side polarizing element is within ±8.

Abstract: A polarizing element has a wire grid structure, and includes a transparent substrate, and projections, which are arrayed on the main surface of the substrate at a pitch p40 that is narrower than the wavelength of the light in the used light region, and extend along the Y-direction. The projections have a laminated structure in which two or more sets of a dielectric layer and a conductive layer are laminated alternately along the Z-direction. The conductive layers include a first conductive layer having absorption properties relative to the light in the used light region and a second conductive layer having reflective properties relative to the light in the used light region. The first conductive layer is provided as the conductive layer closest to the incident side of the light.

Abstract: A polarizing plate has a wire grid structure, and includes a transparent substrate, and a plurality of protrusions, which extend in a first direction (y-direction) on the transparent substrate and are periodically spaced apart from each other at a pitch that is shorter than a wavelength of a light in a use band, wherein each of the protrusions has a base shape portion which is formed having a width across the cross-section orthogonal to the first direction (y-direction) that narrows toward the tip, and a protruding portion which protrudes from the base shape portion and absorbs light having a wavelength in the use band.

Abstract: There is provided a microlens array diffuser plate including: a microlens group positioned on a surface of a transparent substrate. The microlens group at least corresponding to a light ray entering part in the microlens array diffuser plate includes two or more unit cells that are continuous in an array sequence, and the unit cells include a plurality of microlenses positioned on the surface of the transparent substrate. The light ray entering part has at least two regions having different average diffusion angles.

Abstract: Provided is a polarizing element having a wire grid structure. The polarizing element includes a transparent substrate (11) and grid-shaped protrusions (10) that are arranged on the transparent substrate (11) at a smaller pitch than a wavelength of operating band light and that extend in a specific direction. The grid-shaped protrusions (10) include a reflection layer (12) formed on the transparent substrate (11). The reflection layer (12) includes a metal layer (15) and an oxide layer (16) that covers a side surface of the metal layer (15) as viewed in the specific direction and is formed from an oxide of a constituent metal of the metal layer (15).

Abstract: A polarizing element has a wire grid structure, and includes a transparent substrate, and projections, which are arrayed on the main surface of the substrate at a pitch p40 that is narrower than the wavelength of the light in the used light region, and extend along the Y-direction. The projections have a laminated structure in which two or more sets of a dielectric layer and a conductive layer are laminated alternately along the Z-direction. The conductive layers include a first conductive layer having absorption properties relative to the light in the used light region and a second conductive layer having reflective properties relative to the light in the used light region. The first conductive layer is provided as the conductive layer closest to the incident side of the light.

Abstract: A polarizing plate has a wire grid structure, and includes a transparent substrate, and a plurality of protrusions, which extend in a first direction (y-direction) on the transparent substrate and are periodically spaced apart from each other at a pitch that is shorter than a wavelength of a light in a use band, wherein each of the protrusions has a base shape portion which is formed having a width across the cross-section orthogonal to the first direction (y-direction) that narrows toward the tip, and a protruding portion which protrudes from the base shape portion and absorbs light having a wavelength in the use band.

Abstract: Provided is an inorganic polarizing plate having a wire grid structure including: a transparent substrate; and grid-shaped protrusions arranged on the transparent substrate at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of light in a use band, in which the grid-shaped-protrusion includes, in order from the transparent substrate side, a reflection layer and a reflection suppressing layer which includes a dielectric material and a non-dielectric material and of which a content of the non-dielectric material increases as a separation from the reflection layer increases. In addition, provided are a method of manufacturing the inorganic polarizing plate and an optical instrument including the inorganic polarizing plate.

Abstract: There is provided a microlens array diffuser plate including: a microlens group positioned on a surface of a transparent substrate. The microlens group at least corresponding to a light ray entering part in the microlens array diffuser plate includes two or more unit cells that are continuous in an array sequence, and the unit cells include a plurality of microlenses positioned on the surface of the transparent substrate.

Abstract: Provided is a polarizing element having a wire grid structure. The polarizing element includes a transparent substrate (11) and grid-shaped protrusions (10) that are arranged on the transparent substrate (11) at a smaller pitch than a wavelength of operating band light and that extend in a specific direction. The grid-shaped protrusions (10) include a reflection layer (12) formed on the transparent substrate (11). The reflection layer (12) includes a metal layer (15) and an oxide layer (16) that covers a side surface of the metal layer (15) as viewed in the specific direction and is formed from an oxide of a constituent metal of the metal layer (15).

Abstract: Provided is an inorganic polarizing plate having a wire grid structure including: a transparent substrate; and grid-shaped protrusions arranged on the transparent substrate at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of light in a use band, in which the grid-shaped-protrusion includes, in order from the transparent substrate side, a reflection layer and a reflection suppressing layer which includes a dielectric material and a non-dielectric material and of which a content of the non-dielectric material increases as a separation from the reflection layer increases. In addition, provided are a method of manufacturing the inorganic polarizing plate and an optical instrument including the inorganic polarizing plate.