Optical element, metal mold therefor and optical element producing method

摘要

An optical element is provided with a first optical surface; a second optical surface opposite to the first optical surface so that a light flux incident onto the first optical surface and is emitted from the second optical surface, wherein at least one of the first and second optical surfaces is a curved optical surface having a refracting power; and a cyclic pattern structure having the characteristic of form birefringence and provided on the curved optical surface, wherein a distance of a pitch of a pattern in the cyclic pattern structure is smaller than the wavelength of the light flux.