POLARIZATION-MODULATING OPTICAL ELEMENT

摘要

A polarization-modulating optical element (1) consisting of an optically active crystal material has a thickness profile where the thickness, as measured in th e direction of the optical axis, varies over the area of the optical element. The polarization-modulating optical element (1) has the effect that the plane of oscillation of a first linearly polarized light ray and the plane of oscillation of a second lin early polarized light ray are rotated, respectively, by a first angle of rotation and a second angle of rotation, with the first angle of rotation and the second angle of rotation being different from each other.