Abstract: An illumination device 11 has: a light source 1 for emitting polarized light having a Gaussian beam profile and including a first polarized light component and a second polarized light component orthogonal to each other; and a spiral phase element for imparting a phase modulation amount which increases for each predetermined step amount along a circumferential direction about an optical axis OA to the first polarized light component of transmitted polarized light from the light source 1 and making the beam profile of the first polarized light component a Laguerre-Gaussian beam profile, and forming a composite beam having a top-hat-shaped beam profile in which the second polarized light component of the transmitted polarized light from the light source 1 and the first polarized light component having a Laguerre-Gaussian beam profile are synthesized.

Abstract: An illumination device 11 has: a light source 1 for emitting polarized light having a Gaussian beam profile and including a first polarized light component and a second polarized light component orthogonal to each other; and a spiral phase element for imparting a phase modulation amount which increases for each predetermined step amount along a circumferential direction about an optical axis OA to the first polarized light component of transmitted polarized light from the light source 1 and making the beam profile of the first polarized light component a Laguerre-Gaussian beam profile, and forming a composite beam having a top-hat-shaped beam profile in which the second polarized light component of the transmitted polarized light from the light source 1 and the first polarized light component having a Laguerre-Gaussian beam profile are synthesized.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device includes multiple liquid crystal elements arranged along the optical axis. Each liquid crystal element includes two transparent electrodes that are disposed so as to face each other with a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween. At least one of the two transparent electrodes includes multiple partial electrodes. For each of a predetermined number of levels obtained by dividing, by the predetermined number, difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of a phase modulation amount provided to a luminous flux passing through the liquid crystal layer, at least one of the multiple partial electrodes is disposed on a part of the liquid crystal layer, the part providing the luminous flux with a phase modulation amount corresponding to the level. A position of the boundary between any two adjacent partial electrodes with respect to the luminous flux, is different for each liquid crystal element.

Abstract: The microscope apparatus includes a light source which outputs linear polarization having a first wavelength, a polarization conversion element which includes a liquid crystal layer, and by causing linear polarization to pass the liquid crystal layer, converts linear polarization to radial polarization, an objective lens which focuses the radial polarization onto an object surface, a condenser lens which collimates the light reflected from the object surface, a light receiving element which receives light collimated by the condenser lens and outputs signal in accordance with the intensity of light, and a controller which applies electric voltage in accordance with the first wavelength to the liquid crystal layer of the polarization conversion element. The polarization conversion element is disposed in the pupil plane of the objective lens on the light source side.

Abstract: The microscope apparatus includes a light source which outputs linear polarization having a first wavelength, a polarization conversion element which includes a liquid crystal layer, and by causing linear polarization to pass the liquid crystal layer, converts linear polarization to radial polarization, an objective lens which focuses the radial polarization onto an object surface, a condenser lens which collimates the light reflected from the object surface, a light receiving element which receives light collimated by the condenser lens and outputs signal in accordance with the intensity of light, and a controller which applies electric voltage in accordance with the first wavelength to the liquid crystal layer of the polarization conversion element. The polarization conversion element is disposed in the pupil plane of the objective lens on the light source side.