WAVE PLATE AND WAVE PLATE MANUFACTURING METHOD

摘要

Disclosed are a wave plate capable of increasing a birefringence quantity and being made into a thin film, and a method of manufacturing said wave plate. The wave plate comprises a substrate (2), whereon protrusions (21) and depressions (22) are formed with a period less than or equal to the wavelength of light that is used therewith; columnar portions (3), wherein fine grains of a dielectric material are layered by oblique vapor deposition of a dielectric material from two directions, in a columnar shape upon the protrusions (21) in the vertical direction relative to the substrate face of the substrate (2); and interstices (4) that are located upon the depressions (22) and disposed between the columnar portions (3). Using birefringence from the fine grains of the dielectric material and birefringence from the protrusions and depressions of the substrate allows increasing the birefringence quantity and making a thin film.