Abstract: Provided is a polarizing plate 1 having a wire grid structure, the polarizing plate 1 comprising: a transparent substrate 10; and grid protrusions 11 provided over the transparent substrate 10, arranged in an array having a pitch shorter than a wavelength of light in a band to be used, and extending in a predetermined direction, the grid protrusions 11 having a reflective layer 13, a dielectric layer 14, and an absorptive layer 15 that are disposed in this order in a direction away from the transparent substrate 10, and the reflective layer 13 having a maximum width b that is smaller than each of a maximum width of the dielectric layer and a maximum width of the absorptive layer (grid width a). This makes it possible to provide a polarizing plate capable of controlling the wavelength dispersion of absorption axis reflectance more accurately.

Abstract: Provided is a polarizing plate having high transmittance characteristics and high durability. A polarizing plate 1 with a wire grid structure includes a transparent substrate 10, and a grid-shaped projecting portion 11 which is arranged on the transparent substrate 10 at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of light in a used bandwidth and extends in a predetermined direction. The grid-shaped projecting portion 11 includes a reflection layer 12, a dielectric layer 13, and an absorption layer 14 in this order from the side of the transparent substrate 10. A protection layer 15 is provided on a surface of the grid-shaped projecting portion 11, and covers all of an upper surface and a side surface of the absorption layer 14 and all of a side surface of the dielectric layer 13, and at least a part of a side surface of the reflection layer 12. The protection layer 15 on the side surface of the reflection layer 12 is thinner than the protection layer 15 on the side surface of the absorption layer 14.

Abstract: Provided is inorganic polarizing plate, including in order of reciting: a substrate transparent to light in a bandwidth used; a first dielectric layer; a plurality of linear metal layers; a plurality of linear second dielectric layers; and a plurality of linear light absorbing layers, wherein the plurality of linear metal layers are arranged on the first dielectric layer at intervals shorter than a wavelength of the light, the plurality of linear second dielectric layers are arranged on the plurality of linear metal layers, respectively, the plurality of linear light absorbing layers are arranged on the plurality of linear second dielectric layers, respectively, and the inorganic polarizing plate includes a water repelling layer at peripheral ends of the inorganic polarizing plate at which longer-direction ends of the linear metal layers are present, to cover longer-direction ends of the linear metal layers, linear second dielectric layers, and linear light absorbing layers.

Abstract: Provided is a polarizing plate 1 having a wire grid structure, the polarizing plate 1 comprising: a transparent substrate 10; and grid protrusions 11 provided over the transparent substrate 10, arranged in an array having a pitch shorter than a wavelength of light in a band to be used, and extending in a predetermined direction, the grid protrusions 11 having a reflective layer 13, a dielectric layer 14, and an absorptive layer 15 that are disposed in this order in a direction away from the transparent substrate 10, and the reflective layer 13 having a maximum width b that is smaller than each of a maximum width of the dielectric layer and a maximum width of the absorptive layer (grid width a). This makes it possible to provide a polarizing plate capable of controlling the wavelength dispersion of absorption axis reflectance more accurately.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inorganic polarizing plate that exhibits improved heat resistance while suppressing an increase in lead time resulting from addition of process steps and an increase in costs. An inorganic polarizing plate 1 includes: a substrate (11) transparent to light having a wavelength within a used band; a plurality of linear reflective film layers (12) arranged on the substrate (11) at pitches smaller than the wavelength of the light within the used band; a plurality of dielectric film layers (13) arranged on the corresponding reflective film layers (12); and a plurality of absorptive film layers (14) arranged on the corresponding dielectric film layers (13). Each of the absorptive film layers (14) includes: a property-oriented layer (15); and a heat-resistance-oriented layer (16) made of the same material as the property-oriented layer (15) and having an extinction coefficient greater than an extinction coefficient of the property-oriented layer (15).

Abstract: Provided is a polarizing plate having high transmittance characteristics and high durability. A polarizing plate 1 with a wire grid structure includes a transparent substrate 10, and a grid-shaped projecting portion 11 which is arranged on the transparent substrate 10 at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of light in a used bandwidth and extends in a predetermined direction. The grid-shaped projecting portion 11 includes a reflection layer 12, a dielectric layer 13, and an absorption layer 14 in this order from the side of the transparent substrate 10. A protection layer 15 is provided on a surface of the grid-shaped projecting portion 11, and covers all of an upper surface and a side surface of the absorption layer 14 and all of a side surface of the dielectric layer 13, and at least a part of a side surface of the reflection layer 12. The protection layer 15 on the side surface of the reflection layer 12 is thinner than the protection layer 15 on the side surface of the absorption layer 14.

Abstract: Provided is a polarizing plate having high transmittance characteristics and high durability. A polarizing plate 1 with a wire grid structure includes a transparent substrate 10, and a grid-shaped projecting portion 11 which is arranged on the transparent substrate 10 at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of light in a used bandwidth and extends in a predetermined direction. The grid-shaped projecting portion 11 includes a reflection layer 12, a dielectric layer 13, and an absorption layer 14 in this order from the side of the transparent substrate 10. A protection layer 15 is provided on a surface of the grid-shaped projecting portion 11, and covers all of an upper surface and a side surface of the absorption layer 14 and all of a side surface of the dielectric layer 13, and at least a part of a side surface of the reflection layer 12. The protection layer 15 on the side surface of the reflection layer 12 is thinner than the protection layer 15 on the side surface of the absorption layer 14.

Abstract: Provided is a polarizing plate having high transmittance characteristics and high durability. A polarizing plate 1 with a wire grid structure includes a transparent substrate 10, and a grid-shaped projecting portion 11 which is arranged on the transparent substrate 10 at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of light in a used bandwidth and extends in a predetermined direction. The grid-shaped projecting portion 11 includes a reflection layer 12, a dielectric layer 13, and an absorption layer 14 in this order from the side of the transparent substrate 10. A protection layer 15 is provided on a surface of the grid-shaped projecting portion 11, and covers all of an upper surface and a side surface of the absorption layer 14 and all of a side surface of the dielectric layer 13, and at least a part of a side surface of the reflection layer 12. The protection layer 15 on the side surface of the reflection layer 12 is thinner than the protection layer 15 on the side surface of the absorption layer 14.

Abstract: Provided are a fine structure which has water resistance, moisture resistance, and an antifouling property and achieves improvement in long-term reliability, a method for manufacturing the fine structure, and an optical instrument. A fine structure 1 includes: an element 2 having a lattice 12 formed at a pitch shorter than a wavelength of light in a used bandwidth on a transparent substrate 10; and a water-repellent layer 3 that covers a surface of the element 2, in which the water-repellent layer 3 has a silica layer 13 made of silica and a silane coupling layer 14 made of a silane coupling agent, in this order from a side of the element 2.

Abstract: Provided is inorganic polarizing plate, including in order of reciting: a substrate transparent to light in a bandwidth used; a first dielectric layer; a plurality of linear metal layers; a plurality of linear second dielectric layers; and a plurality of linear light absorbing layers, wherein the plurality of linear metal layers are arranged on the first dielectric layer at intervals shorter than a wavelength of the light, the plurality of linear second dielectric layers are arranged on the plurality of linear metal layers, respectively, the plurality of linear light absorbing layers are arranged on the plurality of linear second dielectric layers, respectively, and the inorganic polarizing plate includes a water repelling layer at peripheral ends of the inorganic polarizing plate at which longer-direction ends of the linear metal layers are present, to cover longer-direction ends of the linear metal layers, linear second dielectric layers, and linear light absorbing layers.

Abstract: This invention provides a polarization conversion element that is highly resistant to the heat and light that result from increased brightness levels. In said polarization conversion element, inorganic half-wave plates provided selectively on the output surface of a polarizing beam-splitter array have obliquely deposited layers comprising a dielectric material and the side surfaces of said obliquely deposited layers are covered by protective films.

Abstract: An inorganic optical element, including: a birefringent film 12 having a columnar structure; and a protective film 13 formed on the birefringent film 12, wherein a component of the protective film 13 enters a gap of the birefringent film 12.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inorganic polarizing plate that exhibits improved heat resistance while suppressing an increase in lead time resulting from addition of process steps and an increase in costs. An inorganic polarizing plate 1 includes: a substrate (11) transparent to light having a wavelength within a used band; a plurality of linear reflective film layers (12) arranged on the substrate (11) at pitches smaller than the wavelength of the light within the used band; a plurality of dielectric film layers (13) arranged on the corresponding reflective film layers (12); and a plurality of absorptive film layers (14) arranged on the corresponding dielectric film layers (13). Each of the absorptive film layers (14) includes: a property-oriented layer (15); and a heat-resistance-oriented layer (16) made of the same material as the property-oriented layer (15) and having an extinction coefficient greater than an extinction coefficient of the property-oriented layer (15).

Abstract: An inorganic optical element, including: a birefringent film 12 having a columnar structure; and a protective film 13 formed on the birefringent film 12, wherein a component of the protective film 13 enters a gap of the birefringent film 12.

Abstract: This invention provides a polarization conversion element that is highly resistant to the heat and light that result from increased brightness levels. In said polarization conversion element, inorganic half-wave plates provided selectively on the output surface of a polarizing beam-splitter array have obliquely deposited layers comprising a dielectric material and the side surfaces of said obliquely deposited layers are covered by protective films.