An optical device includes: a sealed container having edge walls facing
each other in a thickness direction of the container and a side wall
connecting both of the edge walls; a first liquid with polarity or
electrical conductivity and sealed within the container; a second liquid
that is sealed within the container and does not mix with the first
liquid; and a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage across the
first liquid. The first liquid and the second liquid have equal specific
gravity, and transmissivity of the first liquid is lower than the
transmissivity of the second liquid. An interface between the first
liquid and the second liquid changes shape in response to a voltage
applied by the voltage applying unit. A light transmission path that
passes through the edge walls and extends in a direction of the thickness
of the container is formed.