Light modulator element and microscope apparatus including light modulation element

A microscope apparatus comprising:

• a light source which emits linear polarization light with a prescribed wavelength;
• a light modulator element which controls the phase of said linear polarization light;
• an objective lens which focuses the light flux passing through said light modulator element onto a prescribed spot of a specimen;
• and
• a light receiving element which receives light from said prescribed spot;
• wherein said light modulator element comprises:
• a first liquid crystal element which comprises a first liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules aligned along a first direction, and two first transparent electrodes disposed in opposition to each other with said first liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween, and which controls the phase of said linear polarization light passing through said first liquid crystal layer by applying an electric voltage in accordance with said prescribed wavelength between said two first transparent electrodes;
• a polarizer plate which is disposed between said light source and said first liquid crystal element and which comprises the transmission axis along said first direction or along a direction orthogonal to said first direction;
• and
• a rotation mechanism which supports said first liquid crystal element and said polarizer plate and which rotates said first liquid crystal element and said polarizer plate integrally in one unit with an optical axis of said first liquid crystal element as the rotation axis.