Vibration element, vibrator, and method for producing vibration element with a vibrating piece having a protruding part for improved vibration characteristics

A vibration element comprising:

• a vibrating piece having a central portion and a peripheral portion, wherein a thickness of the peripheral portion is smaller than a thickness of the central portion;
• a pair of excitation electrodes provided on a first side and a second side of a main surface of the central portion, respectively;
• a pair of connection electrodes provided on the peripheral portion and electrically connected to the pair of excitation electrodes,
• wherein the vibrating piece includes a protruding part provided in contact with the central portion when central portion main surfaces are viewed in a plan view,
• wherein, on a cross section in a thickness direction, the peripheral portion has a first end point on a side opposite to a side where the pair of connection electrodes are provided, the central portion has a second end point on the side opposite to the side where the pair of connection electrodes are provided, and the protruding part has a third end point on the side opposite to the side where the pair of connection electrodes are provided, and
• wherein a first virtual angle formed between a first virtual line connecting the first end point and the third end point and the peripheral portion is larger than a second virtual angle formed between a second virtual line connecting the first end point and the second end point and the peripheral part.