An identification medium comprising a first resin layer and a second resin layer in this order from a viewing side, wherein the first resin layer contains a first cholesteric liquid crystal resin that is a cured product of a first liquid crystal composition, and the first cholesteric liquid crystal resin selectively reflects light at a wavelength of 700 nm or longer and 900 nm or shorter, the second resin layer contains a second cholesteric liquid crystal resin that is a cured product of a second liquid crystal composition, and the second cholesteric liquid crystal resin selectively reflects light at a wavelength of 400 nm or longer and 500 nm or shorter, and the first resin layer has an average value of light transmittance at a wavelength of 400 nm or longer and 425 nm or shorter of 50% or more and 90% or less.

An object of the present invention is to provide a compound which increases the intensity of HTP by exposure to irradiation with light such as ultraviolet rays, and a mixture including the compound. Another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition, a cured product, an optically anisotropic body, and a reflective film.

The compound of the present invention is represented by General Formula (1).

##STR00001##

A double layer liquid crystal device comprises a first and a second layer with orthogonal or crossed alignment of the liquid crystal phase of the two layers, in which the first and second layer have first and second alignment aids comprised of a polymerized or polymerizable molecular compound. The layers are aligned by UV photoalignment and vertical self-alignment by the aid of suitable additives.

An object of the present invention is to provide a polarizer with a high degree of alignment and an image display device including the polarizer. The polarizer of the present invention is a polarizer which is formed of a polarizer-forming composition containing a liquid crystal compound, a first dichroic material, and a second dichroic material, in which the polarizer has an array structure formed of the first dichroic material and an array structure formed of the second dichroic material.

A liquid crystal composition includes at least one of a monofunctional compound represented by Formula (1) defined herein and a monofunctional compound represented by Formula (2) defined herein, and at least one of a difunctional compound represented by Formula (3) defined herein and a multifunctional compound represented by Formula (4) defined herein.

A polymerizable liquid crystal composition for obtaining a retardation film that has high front contrast; and a liquid crystal polymer. A polymerizable liquid crystal composition which is characterized by containing a compound represented by formula (1). ##STR00001## Exemplified are embodiments wherein in formula (1), W.sup.1 represents an alkyl group having 1-5 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1-5 carbon atoms, an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1-5 carbon atoms or an alkanoyl group having 1-5 carbon atoms; Z.sup.1 represents CH.sub.2CH.sub.2COO; Z.sup.2 represents OCOCH.sub.2CH.sub.2; each of Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 represents a linking group; each of Q.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 represents a spacer; and each of P.sup.1 and P.sup.2 represents a polymerizable functional group.

An object of the present invention is to provide a polarizer with a high degree of alignment and an image display device including the polarizer. The polarizer of the present invention is a polarizer which is formed of a polarizer-forming composition containing a liquid crystal compound, a first dichroic material, and a second dichroic material, in which the first dichroic material and the second dichroic material are aligned horizontally with respect to a surface of the polarizer, the first dichroic material is a compound compatible with the liquid crystal compound, and the second dichroic material is a compound which is not compatible with the liquid crystal compound.

A nanoparticle film is disclosed. The nanoparticle film comprises a plurality of polymerized liquid crystal monomers having an axis of alignment, and a plurality of nanoparticles disposed in the polymerized liquid crystal monomers. Each of the nanoparticles has a surface modified by a plurality of first ligands and a long axis aligned with the axis of alignment through the plurality of first ligands.

A polarization diffraction element comprising a film including a liquid crystalline material having photosensitivity, the film having at least one hologram recorded therein, and thereby having a property as a fork-shaped polarization grating having an anisotropic structure in which an optical axis continuously rotates toward a direction of a grating vector.

Provided is a light absorption anisotropic film capable of suppressing reflection occurring between the light absorption anisotropic film and a layer disposed adjacent thereto, a laminate, and an image display device. The light absorption anisotropic film includes a dichroic substance, in which a polarization degree A measured by allowing polarized light to be incident from one surface of the light absorption anisotropic film is different from a polarization degree B measured by allowing polarized light to be incident from the other surface of the light absorption anisotropic film.