Abstract: Provided is an optical scanning device having a stable scanning direction corresponding to a temperature fluctuation of a semiconductor laser by being provided with a predetermined liquid crystal optical element utilizing a characteristic of a linear expansion coefficient of a support of a liquid crystal diffraction element.

Abstract: Provided are a novel optical element that can be used as a sensor or the like and a sensor including the same optical element. The optical element includes a cholesteric liquid crystal layer, in which the cholesteric liquid crystal layer has a liquid crystal alignment pattern in which a direction of an optical axis derived from a liquid crystal compound changes while continuously rotating in at least one in-plane direction, and in a case where a cross-section taken in a thickness direction conforming the in-plane direction in which the direction of the optical axis rotates is observed using a scanning electron microscope, a portion where a bright line and a dark line derived from the cholesteric liquid crystalline phase are discontinuous is provided in the cholesteric liquid crystal layer in the in-plane direction in which the direction of the optical axis rotates.

Abstract: Provided are an optical element including a first optically-anisotropic layer consisting of a cured layer of a composition including a first liquid crystal compound, in which the first optically-anisotropic layer has 0.24 or more of a refractive index anisotropy ?n550 which is measured with light having a wavelength of 550 nm, the first optically-anisotropic layer has a first liquid crystal alignment pattern in which a direction of an optical axis derived from the first liquid crystal compound continuously changes rotationally in at least one in-plane direction, and in the first liquid crystal alignment pattern, in a case where a length ? over which the direction of the optical axis rotates 180° in a plane is defined as a single period, the length ? of the single period is 1.6 ?m or less; a method for forming a photo-alignment pattern; and a method for manufacturing an optical element.

Abstract: An object is to provide: an optical member with which an image display apparatus where multiple images are suppressed can be obtained; and an image display apparatus including the optical member.

Abstract: Provided are: a light guide element that includes an intermediate diffraction element to expand exit pupil such that a light utilization efficiency is high and a decrease in the brightness of an image to be displayed can be suppressed; and an image display apparatus.

Abstract: Provided are an optical member in which emission of stray light to the outside can be suppressed and an image display apparatus. The optical member includes: a light guide element including a light guide plate and an incidence diffraction element and an emission diffraction element that are disposed on a main surface of the light guide plate; and a polarization element that blocks transmission of light leaking to a side of the emission diffraction element opposite to an emission side, wherein the emission diffraction element is a polarization diffraction element, the polarization element is disposed on the side of the emission diffraction element opposite to the emission side, and the polarization element is disposed at a position overlapping the emission diffraction element in a plane direction of the main surface of the light guide plate.

Abstract: Provided are: a light guide element in which the occurrence of multiple images can be suppressed and a wide viewing angle can be obtained; and an image display apparatus including this light guide element.

Abstract: An object is to provide an optical element in which a wavelength dependence of reflection is small, a light guide element including the optical element, and an image display device including the light guide element. The optical element includes a plurality of cholesteric liquid crystal layers having different selective reflection center wavelengths, in which the cholesteric liquid crystal layer has a liquid crystal alignment pattern in which a direction of an optical axis derived from a liquid crystal compound changes while continuously rotating in at least one in-plane direction, and in a case where a length over which the optical axis rotates by 180° in the in-plane direction is set as a single period, a permutation of lengths of selective reflection center wavelengths and a permutation of lengths of the single periods match each other in the cholesteric liquid crystal layers.

Abstract: Provided are a method of forming a photo-alignment film having a large size that can appropriately align a liquid crystal compound can be formed and a method of forming a liquid crystal layer having a large size in which alignment defects of a liquid crystal compound can be suppressed.

Abstract: An object is to provide an optical element in which a wavelength dependence of refraction of transmitted light is small, and a light guide element including the optical element.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing an optical element in which aligning properties of an alignment pattern in a photo-alignment film is improved such that alignment defects of a liquid crystal compound in a liquid crystal layer can be suppressed. The method of manufacturing an optical element includes: an exposure step of performing interference exposure to a surface of a photo-alignment film including a photo-alignment material to form, on the photo-alignment film, an alignment pattern in which a direction of an optical axis derived from a liquid crystal compound changes while continuously rotating in at least one in-plane direction; and a liquid crystal layer forming step of applying a liquid crystal composition including a liquid crystal compound to the photo-alignment film where the alignment pattern is formed to form a liquid crystal layer, in which the photo-alignment material includes an azo compound, and the exposure step is performed in an environment having a relative humidity of 50% or less.

Abstract: Provided are an optical laminate where the occurrence of crosstalk can be suppressed and the occurrence of multiple images can be suppressed, a light guide element, and an image display apparatus.

Abstract: Provided are a liquid crystal diffraction element which exhibits low scattering and high sharpness of diffracted light, and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: An object is to provide a light deflection device having a simple structure suitable for reducing the size and weight where a deflection angle can be increased, and an optical device including the light deflection device. The light deflection device includes: a MEMS light deflection element that deflects incident light to be emitted; and an angle increasing optical element that is disposed downstream of the light deflection element in a light traveling direction and increases an angle range of a deflection angle of light emitted from the light deflection element, in which the MEMS light deflection element has a function of collecting and emitting incident light.

Abstract: An object is to provide a light deflection device and an optical device having a simple structure suitable for reducing the size and weight where a deflection angle can be increased. The light deflection device includes: a light deflection element that deflects incident light in one in-plane direction to be emitted; a driving unit that drives the light deflection element; a light collecting element that is disposed on a light emission side of the light deflection element; and an angle increasing optical element consisting of a diffraction element in which a periodic structure pitch gradually changes from a center of deflection of the light deflection element toward an outer side.

Abstract: An optical film is an optical film in which a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase is fixed and a helical axis of the cholesteric liquid crystalline phase is aligned in an in-plane uniaxial direction, and an Nz is 0.2 to 0.75.

Abstract: Provided are a method of manufacturing an optical element in which an optically-anisotropic layer having a small amount of in-plane unevenness can be prepared, and an optical element.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing an optical element and an optical element, in which an alignment pattern can be formed with high manufacturing efficiency and high accuracy, an increase in manufacturing time caused by an increase in size can be suppressed, and a liquid crystal compound can be appropriately aligned. The method is a method of manufacturing an optical element, the optical element including a liquid crystal layer that is formed of a liquid crystal composition including a liquid crystal compound, an alignment film that aligns the liquid crystal compound of the liquid crystal layer, and a support, the method including: an alignment film forming step of forming the alignment film having a periodic unevenness shape on the support, the unevenness shape having a tilted surface that is tilted with respect to a surface of the support; and a liquid crystal layer forming step of forming the liquid crystal layer on the alignment film.

Abstract: Provided is a laser oscillation element including a cholesteric liquid crystal layer, in which even in a case where the intensity of excitation light is weak, laser oscillation can be induced. The laser oscillation element includes a cholesteric liquid crystal layer obtained by cholesteric alignment of a liquid crystal compound, in which in a cross-section of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer observed with a scanning electron microscope, bright portions and dark portions derived from the cholesteric liquid crystalline phase are tilted with respect to a main surface of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer, the cholesteric liquid crystal layer includes a colorant that emits light by excitation, and a luminescence wavelength range of the colorant and a selective reflection wavelength range of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer at least partially overlap each other.

Abstract: Provided are a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display device including the backlight unit, the backlight unit being capable of switching between viewing angles in the liquid crystal display device and having a configuration in which the brightness values of emitted light on the “+” side and the “?” side at a polar angle with respect to the normal line are symmetric to each other.