A spatial light modulator includes a prism group and satisfies either of
the following conditions d<0.95.times..lamda./(2.times.(n-1)),
d>1.05.times..lamda./(2.times.(n-1)) where d is a distance between a
reference surface and a flat surface, .lamda. is a wavelength of an
incident light, and n is a refractive index of the prism group.