| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photoacoustic microscope having high longitudinal resolution, capable of detecting a photoacoustic wave having a high S/N in a short time, allowing for a reduced processing time and improved picture quality for imaging. <P>SOLUTION: A photoacoustic microscope comprises: an object lens 11 which applies excitation light L to a sample 21 in an absorption wavelength range of an observation object; a scanning part 20 which scans the application position of the excitation light L to be applied to the sample 21; a photoacoustic wave detecting part 19 which detects a photoacoustic wave; and an ultrasonic wave guide system which guides a photoacoustic wave U generated from the sample 21 due to the application of the excitation light L to the photoacoustic wave detecting part 19. The ultrasonic wave guide system includes an ultrasonic lens 16 having a focal position nearly identical to the focal position of the object lens 11, and a confocal aperture 17 which is disposed at a nearly confocal position to the focal position of the object lens 11, on the image side of the ultrasonic lens 16. The photoacoustic wave U from the sample 21 passes through the confocal aperture 17 so as to be guided to the photoacoustic wave detecting part 19. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT |
