Liquid crystal optical element

A liquid crystal optical element comprising:

• a substrate having a first main surface;
• a plurality of structures arranged at a predetermined pitch in each of a plurality of first areas provided in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction on the first main surface;
• and
• a liquid crystal layer provided over the plurality of first areas and a second area surrounding each of the plurality of first area, wherein
• the liquid crystal layer contains first liquid crystal molecules provided between the adjacent structures and arranged along the structures, in the first areas, and second liquid crystal molecules with their long axes arranged in a uniform direction, in the second area, and is cured in a state in which alignment directions of the first liquid crystal molecules and the second liquid crystal molecules remain fixed irrespective of the electric field, and
• the first liquid crystal molecules and the second liquid crystal molecules are arranged such that, in a third direction orthogonal to the first and the second directions, they do not overlap an electrode for alignment control.