Abstract: An optical film having excellent light utilization efficiency and high brightness, and a liquid crystal display using the optical film. The optical film is formed by laminating integrally a brightness enhancement film (A) that separates natural light into transmitted light and reflected light and a collimating film (B) having an uneven portion on a surface thereof. Since an air interface is eliminated by the integral lamination of the brightness enhancement film and the collimating film, stray light is reduced, and the brightness enhancement film has an improved efficiency in reflecting and polarizing light; thereby, enhancing the brightness.

Abstract: A rotatory polarization plate capable of extracting an emission polarized light from an incident polarized light and rotating an azimuth angle of an polarization axis of the incident polarized light, wherein a rotatory polarization angle of the azimuth angle is changed by an incidence angle of the incident polarized light, is useful for an optical element capable of condensing and collimating incident light from a light source in a specific direction.

Abstract: There is provided a polarizing member having a sheet-like member formed so that linearly polarized light can be obtained as transmitted light through the sheet-like member after natural light is incident on a rear surface of the sheet-like member, wherein the sheet-like member exhibits a transmittance difference of not larger than 6% between transmitted light components within a 20 nm-wide wavelength region in a transmission spectrum of light in a wavelength range of from 520 to 640 nm when natural light is incident on the sheet-like member at any angle ranging from an angle viewing from a line normal to a surface of the sheet-like member to an elevation angle of 80 degrees. There is provided an illuminator having a planar light source including a reflection layer on a rear surface side of the planar light source, and a polarizing member defined above and disposed on a front surface side of the planar light source.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical element which comprises a polymeric liquid crystal layer having a helically twisted molecular structure and has satisfactory thickness precision and satisfactory optical properties. The process comprises applying a mixed solution containing a polymerizable nematic liquid crystal compound and a polymerizable chiral reagent to an oriented substrate, followed by drying, to orient the liquid crystal compound; and irradiating the mixed solution applied with radiation from the oriented substrate side while maintaining the mixed solution in contact with a gas comprising oxygen to thereby polymerize and cure the mixed solution.

Abstract: A liquid crystal orientation film, which is formed of a liquid crystal polymer, having a satisfactory orientation property is obtained by a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal orientation film, comprising the steps; coating a polymerizable liquid crystal monomer on an orientation substrate; orienting said polymerizable liquid crystal monomer in a state of liquid crystal; polymerizing said polymerizable liquid crystal monomer to form a liquid crystal orientation layer (1); coating a liquid crystal polymer on said liquid crystal orientation layer (1); and orienting said liquid crystal polymer in a state of liquid crystal to form a liquid crystal orientation layer (2).

Abstract: A process for producing an optical element which comprises a polymeric liquid crystal layer having a helically twisted molecular structure and has satisfactory thickness precision and satisfactory optical properties. The process comprises applying a mixed solution containing a polymerizable nematic liquid crystal compound and a polymerizable chiral reagent to an oriented substrate, followed by drying, to orient the liquid crystal compound; and irradiating the mixed solution applied with radiation from the oriented substrate side while maintaining the mixed solution in contact with a gas comprising oxygen to thereby polymerize and cure the mixed solution.

Abstract: There is provided a polarizing member having a sheet-like member formed so that linearly polarized light can be obtained as transmitted light through the sheet-like member after natural light is incident on a rear surface of the sheet-like member, wherein the sheet-like member exhibits a transmittance difference of not larger than 6% between transmitted light components within a 20 nm-wide wavelength region in a transmission spectrum of light in a wavelength range of from 520 to 640 nm when natural light is incident on the sheet-like member at any angle ranging from an angle viewing from a line normal to a surface of the sheet-like member to an elevation angle of 80 degrees. There is provided an illuminator having a planar light source including a reflection layer on a rear surface side of the planar light source, and a polarizing member defined above and disposed on a front surface side of the planar light source.

Abstract: An optical film having excellent light utilization efficiency and high brightness, and a liquid crystal display using the optical film. The optical film is formed by laminating integrally a brightness enhancement film (A) that separates natural light into transmitted light and reflected light and a collimating film (B) having an uneven portion on a surface thereof. Since an air interface is eliminated by the integral lamination of the brightness enhancement film and the collimating film, stray light is reduced, and the brightness enhancement film has an improved efficiency in reflecting and polarizing light; thereby, enhancing the brightness.