Abstract: A fluorescence detecting method utilizes surface plasmon enhancement. An electric field enhancing field is caused to be generated at a detecting portion that includes a metal film provided on a surface of a dielectric prism. Fluorescence emitted by fluorescent labels, which are attached to a detection target substance, due to the excitation effect of the electric field enhancing field is detected by a photodetector. During the detection, a plurality of fine metal particles are dispersed on the detecting portion.

Abstract: An immunochromatoassay method that allows high detection sensitivity measurement. The method including the steps of: permeating an analyte solution that includes a visibly labeled second binding substance that specifically binds to a detection target substance into a test area of a chromatography medium provided with a first binding substance that specifically binds to the detection target substance, simultaneously with or after the permeation of the analyte solution into the test area, permeating a visual recognition aid solution into the chromatograph medium, the solution having a refractive index whose refractive index difference ?n from that of the chromatograph medium is ?0.1=?n=0.1, and visually observing the test area while the visual recognition aid solution is permeated in the test area.

Abstract: A base plate for mass spectrometry analysis is disclosed, which is used in a method in which a substance immobilized on a surface of the base plate is desorbed from the surface by application of laser light thereto and the ion of the desorbed substance is captured for mass spectrometry analysis. The base plate includes, on at least a portion of the surface thereof, a roughened metal surface capable of exciting local plasmon when exposed to laser light. The roughened metal surface is formed, for example, by forming numerous micropores in a surface of an alumina layer and filling gold particles in the micropores. Each gold particle has a head portion having a size larger than a diameter of the micropore and projecting from the surface of the alumina layer. Use of this base plate allows use of lower-power laser light.

Abstract: A sensor unit of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay system includes a transparent dielectric medium. A thin film has a first surface and a sensing surface. The first surface is connected with the dielectric medium to constitute an interface. The sensing surface is back to the first surface, for detecting (bio) chemical reaction. A flow cell block has a flow channel for flowing of the sample to the sensing surface. Attenuated total reflection of illuminating light is checked at the interface, to analyze interaction between ligand and analyte as samples. The flow channel includes a first inner surface, disposed opposite to the sensing surface to extend along, for passing the sample to flow between. The first inner surface has a height, defined with reference to the sensing surface, and in a range of 200-500 microns.

Abstract: An excitation light beam is emitted from a light source. The excitation light beam propagates through a substrate and enters an interface between the substrate and a thin metal film having fine apertures with diameters less than or equal to the wavelength of the excitation light beam, provided on the surface of the substrate opposite that on which the excitation light beam is incident. Near field light is generated at the fine apertures. Fluorescent labels, included in a sample which is supplied to contact the thin metal film, are excited by the near field light and/or surface plasmon on the thin metal film induced by the near field light. The fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent labels is detected by a photodetector.

Abstract: A cantilever for near field optical microscopes is equipped with a probe in the vicinity of a free end thereof. The probe includes a thin film portion constituted by at least one layer of thin film that serves as the surface of the probe, and an inner bulk portion which is covered by the thin film portion. The outermost layer of the thin film portion is a thin dielectric film, and a metal portion is provided toward the interior of the probe from the thin dielectric film.

Abstract: A sensor unit of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay system includes a transparent dielectric medium. A thin film has a first surface and a sensing surface. The first surface is connected with the dielectric medium to constitute an interface. The sensing surface is back to the first surface, for detecting (bio)chemical reaction. A flow cell block has a flow channel for flowing of the sample to the sensing surface. Attenuated total reflection of illuminating light is checked at the interface, to analyze interaction between ligand and analyte as samples. The flow channel includes a first inner surface, disposed opposite to the sensing surface to extend along, for passing the sample to flow between. The first inner surface has a height, defined with reference to the sensing surface, and in a range of 200-500 microns.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring the dissociation rate coefficient (Kd) by surface plasmon resonance analysis without measuring the theoretical maximum amount of binding (Rmax). The present invention provides a method for measuring the dissociation rate coefficient (Kd) of the reaction between an analyte molecule immobilized on a metal surface and a molecule that interacts with the analyte molecule by assaying changes in surface plasmon resonance signals using a surface plasmon resonance measurement device, wherein the signal and the slope of the dissociation curve of the surface plasmon resonance signal curves, or the signal ratio are used to calculate the dissociation rate coefficient (Kd).

Abstract: A first substance capable of undergoing binding with a substance to be detected in a sample is fixed to a detecting section. A plurality of pieces of a second substance capable of undergoing the binding with the substance to be detected are mixed in the sample. Each of fine metal particles has been bound with one of the pieces of the second substance. A fluorescent substance has been combined with each pair of the fine metal particle and the piece of the second substance into an integral body. Exciting light capable of exciting the fluorescent substance is irradiated to the detecting section, and fluorescence produced by the fluorescent substance is detected.

Abstract: A fluorescence sensor comprises a sensor section for collecting a fluorescent substance, which acts to represent presence of a substance to be detected in a sample, and an exciting light source, which produces exciting light for exciting the fluorescent substance to produce fluorescence. Besides the exciting light source, at least one different non-exciting light source is located for irradiating different non-exciting light, which varies in wavelength from the exciting light and which is substantially free from capability of exciting the fluorescent substance, to the sensor section.

Abstract: A solid-state laser crystal constituting a laser-diode-excited solid-state laser apparatus or an optical fiber constituting a fiber laser apparatus or fiber laser amplifier is doped with one of Ho3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Dy3+, Er3+, and Tb3+ so that a laser beam is emitted from the solid-state laser crystal or the optical fiber, or incident light of the fiber laser amplifier is amplified, by one of the transitions from 5S2 to 5I7, from 5S2 to 5I8, from 4G5/2 to 6H5/2, from 4G5/2 to 6H7/2, from 4F3/2 to 6H11/2, from 5D0 to 7F2, from 4F9/2 to 6H13/2, from 4F9/2 to 6H11/2, from 4S3/2 to 4I15/2, from 2H9/2 to 4I13/2, and from 5D4 to 7F5. The above solid-state laser crystal or optical fiber is excited with a GaN-based compound laser diode.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for measuring a rate coefficient by surface plasmon resonance analysis with excellent accuracy, reliability, and cost performance that can improve the assay accuracy and simplify the apparatus.

Abstract: A solid-state laser crystal constituting a laser-diode-excited solid-state laser apparatus or an optical fiber constituting a fiber laser apparatus or fiber laser amplifier is doped with one of Ho3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Dy3+, Er3+, and Tb3+ so that a laser beam is emitted from the solid-state laser crystal or the optical fiber, or incident light of the fiber laser amplifier is amplified, by one of the transitions from 5S2 to 5I7, from 5S2 to 5I8, from 4G5/2 to 6H5/2, from 4G5/2 to 6H7/2, from 4F3/2 to 6H11/2, from 5D0 to 7F2, from 4F9/2 to 6H13/2, from 4F9/2 to 6H11/2, from 4S3/2 to 4I15/2, from 2H9/2 to 4I13/2, and from 5D4 to 7F5. The above solid-state laser crystal or optical fiber is excited with a GaN-based compound laser diode.

Abstract: Exciting light is irradiated through a dielectric material block toward an interface between the dielectric material block and a metal film formed on one surface of the dielectric material block, such that total reflection conditions may be satisfied. A fluorescence detector detects fluorescence produced by a fluorescent substance, which is contained in a sample and produces the fluorescence by being excited by an evanescent wave oozing out from the interface when the exciting light impinges upon the interface. The exciting light has a wavelength causing the fluorescent substance, which is contained in the sample, to undergo multiphoton absorption. The fluorescence detector has sensitivity to a wavelength region of the fluorescence produced by the fluorescent substance through the multiphoton absorption.

Abstract: A solid-state laser crystal constituting a laser-diode-excited solid-state laser apparatus or an optical fiber constituting a fiber laser apparatus or fiber laser amplifier is doped with one of Ho3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Dy3+, Er3+, and Tb3+ so that a laser beam is emitted from the solid-state laser crystal or the optical fiber, or incident light of the fiber laser amplifier is amplified, by one of the transitions from 5S2 to 5I7, from 5S2 to 5I8, from 4G5/2 to 6H5/2, from 4G5/2 to 6H7/2, from 4F3/2 to 6H11/2, from 5D0 to 7F2, from 4F9/2 to 6H13/2, from 4F9/2 to 6H11/2, from 4S3/2 to 4I15/2, from 2H9/2 to 4I13/2, and from 5D4 to 7F5. The above solid-state laser-crystal or optical fiber is excited with a GaN-based compound laser diode.

Abstract: A measurement path is filled with air prior to performing actual measurement. A p-polarized light beam is caused to enter an interface, and the intensity distribution of the light beam reflected at the interface is detected by a photodiode array to obtain a reference intensity distribution of the light beam itself. Thereafter, the measurement path is filled with a target for measurement, and the intensity distribution of a light beam reflected at the interface is measured. Each of the measured distribution values are divided by the reference intensity distribution, to cancel out influences due to fluctuations in the intensity distribution of the light beam. Thereby, the position of an attenuated total reflection angle is detected with high accuracy. Because a light beam constituted by p-polarized light waves is utilized, separating means for separating the light beam reflected at the interface into p-polarized and s-polarized light waves becomes unnecessary.

Abstract: A solid-state laser crystal constituting a laser-diode-excited solid-state laser apparatus or an optical fiber constituting a fiber laser apparatus or fiber laser amplifier is doped with one of Ho3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Dy3+, Er3+, and Tb3+ so that a laser beam is emitted from the solid-state laser crystal or the optical fiber, or incident light of the fiber laser amplifier is amplified, by one of the transitions from 5S2 to 5I7, from 5S2 to 5I8, from 4G5/2 to 6H5/2, from 4G5/2 to 6H7/2, from 4F3/2 to 6H11/2, from 5D0 to 7F2, from 4F9/2 to 6H13/2, from 4F9/2 to 6H11/2, from 4S3/2 to 4I15/2, from 2H9/2 to 4I13/2, and from 5D4 to 7F5. The above solid-state laser crystal or optical fiber is excited with a GaN-based compound laser diode.

Abstract: A solid-state laser crystal constituting a laser-diode-excited solid-state laser apparatus or an optical fiber constituting a fiber laser apparatus or fiber laser amplifier is doped with one of Ho3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Dy3+, Er3+, and Tb3+ so that a laser beam is emitted from the solid-state laser crystal or the optical fiber, or incident light of the fiber laser amplifier is amplified, by one of the transitions from 5S2 to 5I7, from 5S2 to 5I8, from 4G5/2 to 6H5/2, from 4G5/2 to 6H7/2, from 4F3/2 to 6H11/2, from 5D0 to 7F2, from 4F9/2 to 6H13/2, from 4F9/2 to 6H11/2, from 4S3/2 to 4I15/2, from 2H9/2 to 4I13/2, and from 5D4 to 7F5. The above solid-state laser crystal or optical fiber is excited with a GaN-based compound laser diode.

Abstract: A fluorescence sensor is constituted by: a light source, for emitting excitation light of a predetermined wavelength; a dielectric block, formed of a material that transmits the excitation light; a metal film, formed on a surface of the dielectric block; a non flexible film of a hydrophobic material, formed on the metal film at a film thickness within a range of 10 to 100 nm; a sample holding portion, for holding a sample such that the sample contacts the non flexible film; an incident optical system, for causing the excitation light to enter the interface between the dielectric block and the metal film through the dielectric block such that conditions for total internal reflection are satisfied; and fluorescence detecting means, for detecting fluorescence emitted by a substance within the sample, which is excited by evanescent waves that leak from the interface when the excitation light enters the interface.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a dielectric block, a laser light source for generating a light beam, an optical system for causing the light beam to enter the interface between the dielectric block and a metal film at various incident angles, and a light detection unit for detecting a parallelized light beam totally reflected at the interface. Properties are measured while causing a reference molecule, of substantially the same size and the same refractive index as an analysis object molecule, to adhere onto the metal film. The reference molecule is removed from the metal film, and the position of a dark line is measured while the measurement chip retains a sample. The position of a dark line of the analysis object molecule is detected by calibrating sensitivity based on the detection result of the position of the dark line while causing the reference molecule to adhere onto the metal film.