Optical element, method for forming photo-alignment pattern, and method for manufacturing optical element

An optical element comprising:

• a first optically-anisotropic layer consisting of a cured layer of a composition including a first liquid crystal compound,
• wherein the first optically-anisotropic layer has 0.24 or more of a refractive index anisotropy Δn550 which is measured with light having a wavelength of 550 nm,
• the first optically-anisotropic layer has a first liquid crystal alignment pattern in which a direction of an optical axis derived from the first liquid crystal compound continuously changes rotationally in at least one in-plane direction, and
• in the first liquid crystal alignment pattern, in a case where a length Λ over which the direction of the optical axis rotates 180° in a plane is defined as a single period, the length Λ of the single period is 1.6 μm or less,
• wherein the first liquid crystal compound is a compound represented by Formula (I),
• in Formula (I), P1 and P2 each independently represent a polymerizable group,
• L1 and L2 each independently represent a single bond or a divalent linking group,
• X represents —CH2—,
• Y represents —CH2— or —O—,
• R1 to R4 each independently represent a substituent,
• m1 to m4 each independently represent an integer of 0 to 4, and
• in a case where R1 to R4 are each present in plurality, R1's to R4's each may be the same or different from each other.