Projection optical apparatus and projector with damping mechanism

A projector that projects image light, the projector comprising:

• an image forming apparatus that includes a light source, a light modulator, and an exterior enclosure and outputs the image light;
• a projection optical apparatus that is removably supported by the image forming apparatus and projects the image light;
• and
• a damping mechanism that is supported by the image forming apparatus or the projection optical apparatus and absorbs a variation in torque between the image forming apparatus and the projection optical apparatus, wherein
• the projection optical apparatus includes
• an optical system, and
• a projection optic enclosure that accommodates the optical system,
• the optical system includes a first optical system on which the image light is incident,
• the projection optic enclosure includes
• a first accommodation section that accommodates the first optical system and includes a supported section supported by the image forming apparatus, and
• a first wall section and a second wall section that face each other in a first direction that intersects a direction along a line that connects the supported section to a center of gravity of the projection optical apparatus,
• the damping mechanism is supported by the image forming apparatus and includes
• a standing section that stands from the exterior enclosure, and
• a damper that is so supported by the standing section as to be disposed between the first wall section and the second wall section and juts out relative to the standing section by an amount that changes in accordance with pressing force produced by the first wall section or the second wall section.