Polarizing element and liquid crystal projector

1. A polarizing element comprising:

a first polarizing element including a first substrate transparent to visible light, and

first inorganic particle layers in each of which first inorganic particles are linearly disposed on the first substrate, the first inorganic particle layers being disposed on the first substrate at predetermined intervals to form a wire grid structure,

wherein the first inorganic particles each have an elliptical shape with a major axis in a disposed direction and a minor axis in a direction perpendicular thereto,

wherein the first polarizing element further includes convex portions, which are made of a material transparent to visible light and which extend in one direction, provided on the first substrate,

wherein the first inorganic particle layers are each provided on a top part or at least one of sidewall parts of each of the convex portions; and

a second polarizing element including a second substrate transparent to visible light, and

second inorganic particle layers in each of which second inorganic particles are linearly disposed on the second substrate, the second inorganic particle layers being disposed on the second substrate at predetermined intervals to form a wire grid structure,

wherein the second inorganic particles each have shape anisotropic properties in which a diameter in a disposed direction is long and a diameter in a direction perpendicular thereto is short,

wherein the second polarizing element further includes reflection layers of strip-shaped thin films, which are made of a metal and which extend in one direction, provided on the second substrate at predetermined intervals; and first dielectric layers provided on the reflection layers,

wherein the second inorganic particle layers are provided on the first dielectric layers at positions corresponding to those of the strip-shaped thin films, and

wherein the first and second substrates are adhered to each other at rear surfaces thereof.

2. The polarizing element according to claim 1 ,

wherein a refractive index of the first inorganic particles in the disposed direction is larger than that of the first inorganic particles in the direction perpendicular to the disposed direction.

3. The polarizing element according to claim 2 ,

wherein an extinction coefficient of the first inorganic particles in the disposed direction is larger than that of the first inorganic particles in the direction perpendicular thereto.

4. The polarizing element according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first inorganic particle layers are formed by an oblique sputtering method.

5. The polarizing element according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first inorganic particles include a single element selected from the groups consisting of: Al, Ag, Cu, Au, Mo, Cr, Ti, W, Ni, Fe, Si, Ge, Te, and Sn, an alloy thereof, or a silicide semiconductor material.

6. The polarizing element according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first inorganic particles include a semiconductor material having a bandgap energy of 3.1 eV or less.

7. The polarizing element according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first inorganic particle layers have a thickness of 200 nm or less.

8. The polarizing element according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second substrate is processed by a rubbing treatment so that the direction of the rubbing treatment corresponds to the disposed direction of the first inorganic particles,

the polarizing element further comprising antireflection layers of inorganic particles having shape anisotropic properties, the antireflection layers being provided on the surface of the second substrate so that the direction of the inorganic particles corresponds to the disposed direction of the first inorganic particles.

9. The polarizing element according to claim 1 ,

further comprising

second dielectric layers, the second inorganic particle layers and the second dielectric layers forming laminates,

wherein at least one of the laminates is provided on each of the first inorganic particle layers.

10. The polarizing element according to claim 1 , further comprising a polarizing element protective layer transparent to light in a service bandwidth as an outermost surface.

11. A liquid crystal projector comprising:

a lamp;

a liquid crystal panel; and

a polarizing element including a substrate transparent to visible light; and

first inorganic particle layers in each of which first inorganic particles are linearly disposed on the substrate, the first inorganic particle layers being disposed on the substrate at predetermined intervals to form a wire grid structure,

wherein the first inorganic particles each have an elliptical shape with a major axis in a disposed direction and a minor axis in a direction perpendicular thereto,

wherein the first polarizing element further includes convex portions, which are made of a material transparent to visible light and which extend in one direction, provided on the first substrate,

wherein the first inorganic particle layers are each provided on a top part or at least one of sidewall parts of each of the convex portions; and

a second polarizing element including a second substrate transparent to visible light, and

second inorganic particle layers in each of which second inorganic particles are linearly disposed on the second substrate, the second inorganic particle layers being disposed on the second substrate at predetermined intervals to form a wire grid structure,

wherein the second inorganic particles each have shape anisotropic properties in which a diameter in a disposed direction is long and a diameter in a direction perpendicular thereto is short,

wherein the second polarizing element further includes reflection layers of strip-shaped thin films, which are made of a metal and which extend in one direction, provided on the second substrate at predetermined intervals; and first dielectric layers provided on the reflection layers,

wherein the second inorganic particle layers are provided on the first dielectric layers at positions corresponding to those of the strip-shaped thin films, and

wherein the first and second substrates are adhered to each other at rear surfaces thereof.