Projector

A projector comprising:

• a light source configured to emit first light, which is non-linearly polarized light;
• a polarization conversion unit configured to convert the first light made incident from the light source into predetermined linearly polarized light;
• a light modulation device including a liquid crystal panel which modulates the predetermined linearly polarized light converted by the polarization conversion unit;
• and
• a superimposing optical system configured to superimpose, on the liquid crystal panel, the predetermined linearly polarized light made incident from the polarization conversion unit, wherein
• the polarization conversion unit includes:
• a polarizing separator configured to separate the first light into second light and third light based on polarized light components;
• and
• a phase difference element configured to align polarization directions of the second light and the third light with the predetermined linearly polarized light,
• the polarizing separator includes a polarizing separation element and a reflection element,
• the polarizing separation element is provided in a tilted state with respect to a principal ray of the first light and separates the first light by reflecting a first linearly polarized light component in the first light toward the superimposing optical system as the second light and transmitting, as the third light, a second linearly polarized light component in a polarization direction different from a polarization direction of the first linearly polarized light component in the first light, and
• the reflection element reflects the third light made incident from the polarizing separation element toward the superimposing optical system.