Liquid crystal device, image display apparatus and image forming

Abstract

A liquid crystal device is formed by a pair of substrates each having thereon electrodes, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates so as to be movable along surfaces of the substrates. The liquid crystal is disposed over regions extending between the surfaces of the substrates including an effective optical modulation region, a first peripheral region outside the effective optical modulation region and a second peripheral region formed along a part or an entirety of outer periphery of the first peripheral region. The liquid crystal is disposed to have a higher liquid crystal molecular pretilt angle in the first peripheral region than in the effective optical modulation region. The liquid crystal is disposed in a random alignment state free from uniaxial alignment characteristic or in a layer structure in the second peripheral region. As a result, the liquid crystal molecular movement along the extension of substrates is suppressed in the effective optical modulation region and in the second peripheral region and relatively allowed in the first peripheral region, so that the impurities in the liquid crystal are confined in the second peripheral region while avoiding the liquid crystal thickness irregularity.