Optical element

Abstract

An optical element that has a flat plate shape and includes a light entering surface and a light exiting surface substantially parallel with the light entering surface, the element includes a plurality of translucent members, a plurality of optical multilayer films, a plurality of phase plates, and a plurality of plasma polymerized films. The translucent members, the optical multilayer films, the phase plates, and the plasma polymerized films are provided along the light entering surface and the light exiting surface. The translucent members include a plurality of oblique surfaces oblique to the light entering surface and the light exiting surface. Each of the optical multilayer films is formed on some of the oblique surfaces. The optical multilayer film is either one of a polarization separating film and a reflecting film. Each of the plasma polymerized films is formed on at least one of a surface of each of the oblique surfaces, a surface of the optical multilayer film, and a surface of each of the phase plates. At least one of each of the translucent members adjacent to the optical multilayer film and the optical multilayer film, the translucent member adjacent to the phase plate and the phase plate, and the phase plate adjacent to the optical multilayer film and the optical multilayer film is molecular-bonded with the plasma polymerized film.