Liquid crystal optical modulation element and optical head device

1. A liquid crystal optical modulation element operable to modulate a laser beam having a wavelength of at most 500 nm, which comprises:

a layer comprising a liquid crystal composition sandwiched between a pair of transparent substrates facing each other, wherein

each transparent substrate has an electrode and an alignment film comprising a polyimide on the surface thereof which faces the other transparent substrate,

the alignment film and the liquid crystal composition are in contact with each other, and

the liquid crystal composition comprises at least one antioxidant comprising at least one hindered amine and at least one hindered phenol, the value of (the mass of the hindered phenol)/(the mass of the hindered phenol+the mass of the hindered amine) is at most 0.5.

2. A liquid crystal optical modulation element operable to modulate a laser beam having a wavelength of at most 500 nm, which comprises:

a layer comprising a liquid crystal composition sandwiched between a pair of transparent substrates facing each other, wherein

each transparent substrate has an electrode and an alignment film comprising a polyimide on the surface thereof which faces the other transparent substrate,

the alignment film and the liquid crystal composition are in contact with each other, and

the liquid crystal composition comprises at least one antioxidant comprising at least one hindered amine and at least one hindered phenol, the value of (the mass of the hindered phenol)/(the mass of the hindered phenol+the mass of the hindered amine) is from 0.01 and at most 0.3.

3. A liquid crystal optical modulation element operable to modulate a laser beam having a wavelength of at most 500 nm, which comprises:

a layer comprising a liquid crystal composition comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of:

R 11 -A 11 -(X 11 —B 11 ) j —(X 12 —B 12 ) k —X 13 —C 11 —R 12   (1)

R 21 -A 21 -(X 21 —B 21 ) p —(X 22 —B 22 ) q —X 23 -A 22 -R 22   (2) and

R 31 -A 31 -X 31 —C 31 —R 32   (3)

wherein

j, k, p, q: each independently 0 or 1;

R 11 , R 21 , R 22 , R 31 : each independently a C 2-7 linear alkyl group, a C 2-7 linear alkoxy group, a C 2-7 linear alkenyl group or a C 2-7 linear alkenyloxy group;

R 12 : a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a trifluoromethoxy group or a difluoromethoxy group;

R 32 : a C 2-7 linear alkyl group or a C 2-7 linear alkoxy group;

X 11 , X 12 , X 13 , X 21 , X 22 , X 23 and X 31 : each independently a single bond, —(CH 2 ) 2 —, —(CH 2 ) 4 —, —CH 2 O—, —OCH 2 —, —(CF 2 ) 2 —, —CF 2 O— or —OCF 2 —;

A 11 , A 21 , A 22 , A 31 : each independently a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group or a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group;

B 11 , B 12 , B 21 , B 22 : each independently a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a 1,4-phenylene group or a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group; and

C 11 , C 31 : a 1,4-phenylene group or a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group,

said layer sandwiched between a pair of transparent substrates facing each other, and wherein

each transparent substrate has an electrode and an alignment film comprising a polyimide on the surface thereof which faces the other transparent substrate, the alignment film and the liquid crystal composition are in contact with each other, and

the liquid crystal composition comprises at least one antioxidant.

4. The element according to claim 3 , wherein (1) is at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R A is a C 2-7 linear alkyl group.

5. The element according to claim 3 , wherein (2) is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R A and R B are each independently a C 2-7 linear alkyl group.

6. The element according to claim 3 , wherein (3) is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R A and R B are each independently a C 2-7 linear alkyl group.

7. The element according to claim 3 , wherein said liquid crystal composition comprises:

8. A liquid crystal optical modulation element operable to modulate a laser beam having a wavelength of at most 500 nm, which comprises:

a layer comprising a liquid crystal composition sandwiched between a pair of transparent substrates facing each other, wherein

each transparent substrate has an electrode and an alignment film comprising a polyimide on the surface thereof which faces the other transparent substrate,

the alignment film and the liquid crystal composition are in contact with each other, and

the liquid crystal composition comprises at least one antioxidant comprising at least one hindered amine selected from the group consisting of:

9. A liquid crystal optical modulation element operable to modulate a laser beam having a wavelength of at most 500 nm, which comprises:

a layer comprising a liquid crystal composition sandwiched between a pair of transparent substrates facing each other, wherein

each transparent substrate has an electrode and an alignment film comprising a polyimide on the surface thereof which faces the other transparent substrate,

the alignment film and the liquid crystal composition are in contact with each other, and

the liquid crystal composition comprises at least one antioxidant comprising at least one hindered phenol selected from the group consisting of: