Projector

A projector comprising:

• a light source configured to output illumination light;
• a light combiner that the illumination light output from the light source enters;
• a light modulation portion configured to modulate light incident from the light combiner to generate image modulated light;
• a light separation portion configured to separate the image modulated light incident from the light modulation portion into image generation light that is used to generate an image, and image non-generation light that is not used to generate the image;
• a projection optical apparatus configured to project the image generation light incident from the light separation portion;
• a light guide system configured to guide the image non-generation light incident from the light separation portion to the light combiner;
• and
• a polarization converter disposed in an optical path between the light combiner and the light modulation portion and configured to align polarization directions of the light incident from the light combiner,
• wherein the illumination light output from the light source is light polarized in a first polarization direction with respect to the light combiner, and
• the image non-generation light caused to enter the light combiner by the light guide system is light polarized in a second polarization direction perpendicular to the first polarization direction with respect to the light combiner, is combined with the illumination light incident from the light source in the light combiner, and is caused to enter the light modulation portion.