Abstract: An optical microscope that can prevent an increase in the complexity of the light source system is equipped with optics readily capable of adequate operation even when the modulation frequency is increased to reduce the impact of the intensity noise of the laser. The optical microscope irradiates a sample with a first train of optical pulses having a first optical frequency, which is generated by a first light source, and a second train of optical pulses having a second optical frequency, which is temporally synchronized with the first train of optical pulses and is generated by a second light source, and detects light scattered from the sample. A first repetition frequency of the first train of optical pulses is an integral sub-multiple of a second repetition frequency of the second train of optical pulses.

Abstract: The stimulated Raman scattering detection apparatus includes first and second light pulse generators (1, 2) respectively generating first and second light pulses with first and second pulse periods, an optical system combining the first and second light pulses and focusing the combined light pulses onto a sample, and a detector (10) detecting the second light pulses intensity-modulated by stimulated Raman scattering generated by focusing of the combined light pulses onto the sample. The second light pulse generator divides each raw light pulse emitted with the second pulse period into two light pulses, delays one of the two light pulse with respect to the other thereof and combines the one light pulse divided from one raw light pulse and delayed, with the other light pulse divided from another raw light pulse emitted after the one raw light pulse, to generate the second light pulse.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for narrowing a spectral width that can also be adapted to an ultrashort optical pulse emitted from a wavelength tunable light source, and that can provide an output optical pulse with a narrow spectral width and a low noise component, and an optical element and a light source device that use the method for narrowing a spectral width. The method includes using an optical waveguide member (2) to cause a soliton effect in an input optical pulse (1) within the optical waveguide member (2), thereby narrowing a spectral width of the input optical pulse (1) to provide an output optical pulse (3), the optical waveguide member (2) having dispersion characteristics such that the average of a second-order dispersion value (?2) with respect to the input optical pulse (1) is negative, and the absolute value of the second-order dispersion value (?2) increases in a propagation direction of the input optical pulse (1).

Abstract: A heating device includes a magnetic-field generating unit that generates an alternating-current magnetic field, an endless belt, and a heat transfer unit that includes a heat storage layer, a thermosensitive layer, and a diffusion layer. The thermosensitive layer extends so as to separate the magnetic-field generating unit and the heat storage layer from each other, and forms a magnetic path that allows a magnetic flux of the alternating-current magnetic field to pass therethrough in a direction in which the thermosensitive layer extends at a temperature below a Curie temperature and a magnetic path that allows the magnetic flux to extend therethrough and reach the heat storage layer at a temperature higher than or equal to the Curie temperature. The diffusion layer has a higher thermal conductivity than thermal conductivities of the thermosensitive layer and the heat storage layer, and diffusing heat of the belt.

Abstract: The Raman scattering measuring apparatus includes a first light generator to produce a first light, a second light generator to produce a second light having a frequency different from that of the first light, an optical system to focus the first and second lights to a sample, and a detector to detect the first or second light intensity-modulated by Raman scattering. The first light generator includes a wavelength extractor that performs a wavelength filtering to extract light of an extraction wavelength from light in a wavelength range including the extraction wavelength and an amplification of the light extracted by the wavelength filtering. The wavelength extractor performs a first filtering on an entering light, a first amplification on the light extracted by the first filtering, a second filtering on the light amplified by the first amplification and a second amplification on the light extracted by the second filtering.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device capable of taking more light into light receiving regions is provided.

Abstract: An optical microscope that can prevent an increase in the complexity of the light source system is equipped with optics readily capable of adequate operation even when the modulation frequency is increased to reduce the impact of the intensity noise of the laser. The optical microscope irradiates a sample with a first train of optical pulses having a first optical frequency, which is generated by a first light source, and a second train of optical pulses having a second optical frequency, which is temporally synchronized with the first train of optical pulses and is generated by a second light source, and detects light scattered from the sample. A first repetition frequency of the first train of optical pulses is an integral sub-multiple of a second repetition frequency of the second train of optical pulses.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for fabricating a semiconductor thin film includes: substrate surface pretreatment means (101) for pretreating a surface of a substrate; organic layer coating means (102) for coating, with an organic layer, the substrate thus pretreated; focused light irradiation means (103) for irradiating, with focused light, the substrate coated with the organic layer, and for forming a growth-mask layer while controlling layer thickness; first thin film growth means (104) for selectively growing a semiconductor thin film over an area around the growth-mask layer; substrate surface treatment means (105) for, after exposing the surface of the substrate by removing the growth-mask layer, modifying the exposed surface of the substrate; and second thin film growth means (106) for further growing the semiconductor thin film and growing a semiconductor thin film over the modified surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The stimulated Raman scattering detection apparatus includes first and second light pulse generators (1, 2) respectively generating first and second light pulses with first and second pulse periods, an optical system combining the first and second light pulses and focusing the combined light pulses onto a sample, and a detector (10) detecting the second light pulses intensity-modulated by stimulated Raman scattering generated by focusing of the combined light pulses onto the sample. The second light pulse generator divides each raw light pulse emitted with the second pulse period into two light pulses, delays one of the two light pulse with respect to the other thereof and combines the one light pulse divided from one raw light pulse and delayed, with the other light pulse divided from another raw light pulse emitted after the one raw light pulse, to generate the second light pulse.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical microscope that prevents an increase in the complexity of the light source system and is equipped with optics readily capable of adequate operation even when the modulation frequency is increased in order to reduce the impact of the intensity noise of the laser, etc. This optical microscope 100 irradiates a sample 6 with a first train of optical pulses having a first optical frequency, which is generated by a first light source, and a second train of optical pulses having a second optical frequency, which is temporally synchronized with the first train of optical pulses and is generated by a second light source, and detects light scattered from the sample 6. The repetition frequency of the train of optical pulses generated by the first light source is an integral sub-multiple of the repetition frequency of the train of optical pulses generated by the second light source.

Abstract: A heating device includes a magnetic-field generating unit that generates an alternating-current magnetic field, an endless belt, and a heat transfer unit that includes a heat storage layer, a thermosensitive layer, and a diffusion layer. The thermosensitive layer extends so as to separate the magnetic-field generating unit and the heat storage layer from each other, and forms a magnetic path that allows a magnetic flux of the alternating-current magnetic field to pass therethrough in a direction in which the thermosensitive layer extends at a temperature below a Curie temperature and a magnetic path that allows the magnetic flux to extend therethrough and reach the heat storage layer at a temperature higher than or equal to the Curie temperature. The diffusion layer has a higher thermal conductivity than thermal conductivities of the thermosensitive layer and the heat storage layer, and diffusing heat of the belt.

Abstract: Provided are a method for observing protein crystal, wherein the growth process of the protein crystals is nondestructively and three-dimensionally monitored on a real-time basis and the growth of the crystals is controlled at a high accuracy to thereby enable the formation of single crystals having good qualities, which comprises observing the protein crystals, said protein crystals having been produced by a crystallization method using a gel, by an OCT measurement using light emitted from an ultrawideband light source; a method for observing protein crystals wherein the ultrawideband light source is an ultrawideband supercontinuum light source; a method for observing protein crystals wherein the center wavelength of the light emitted from the ultrawideband supercontinuum light source is a 0.8 ?m band; and a method for observing protein crystals wherein the monitoring of the protein crystals is a monitoring by an in situ measurement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for narrowing a spectral width that can also be adapted to an ultrashort optical pulse emitted from a wavelength tunable light source, and that can provide an output optical pulse with a narrow spectral width and a low noise component, and an optical element and a light source device that use the method for narrowing a spectral width. The method includes using an optical waveguide member (2) to cause a soliton effect in an input optical pulse (1) within the optical waveguide member (2), thereby narrowing a spectral width of the input optical pulse (1) to provide an output optical pulse (3), the optical waveguide member (2) having dispersion characteristics such that the average of a second-order dispersion value (?2) with respect to the input optical pulse (1) is negative, and the absolute value of the second-order dispersion value (?2) increases in a propagation direction of the input optical pulse (1).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner image forming unit; a transfer unit transferring a toner image onto a recording medium; and a fixing unit. The fixing unit includes: a fixing member fixing toner onto a recording medium with a conductive layer heated by electromagnetic induction; a pressure member coming into pressure contact with an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member, forming a fixing pressure portion between the pressure member and the fixing member; a magnetic field generating member generating an alternate-current magnetic field intersecting with the conductive layer; and a heat storage member contacting the fixing member and facing the magnetic field generating member with the fixing member interposed therebetween, the heat storage member generating heat to supply heat to the fixing member. The image forming apparatus further includes first and second power supplies respectively supplying power to the magnetic field generating member and the heat storage member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that fixes a toner image on a recording material, a pressure applying member that is pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member and forms a press-fixing part therebetween through which the recording material having an unfixed toner image is transported, a heating unit that heats the fixing member, and a pressure-applying-member-moving unit that moves the pressure applying member and changes the pressure applying member between being pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member and being spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member. The heating unit heats the fixing member at the start of a fixing operation under heating conditions corresponding to a change in the state of the fixing member occurring when the pressure applying member is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member by the pressure-applying-member-moving unit.

Abstract: The fixing device includes: a fixing member that includes a conductive layer capable of heating by electromagnetic induction; a magnetic field generating member that generates an alternate-current magnetic field intersecting with the conductive layer of the fixing member; plural magnetic path forming members that form a magnetic path of the alternate-current magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating member; a support member that supports the magnetic field generating member; an elastic support member that is arranged between the magnetic field generating member and the plural magnetic path forming members so as to be in contact with the plural magnetic path forming members; and a pressing member that presses the plural magnetic path forming members toward the magnetic field generating member.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical microscope that prevents an increase in the complexity of the light source system and is equipped with optics readily capable of adequate operation even when the modulation frequency is increased in order to reduce the impact of the intensity noise of the laser, etc. This optical microscope 100 irradiates a sample 6 with a first train of optical pulses having a first optical frequency, which is generated by a first light source, and a second train of optical pulses having a second optical frequency, which is temporally synchronized with the first train of optical pulses and is generated by a second light source, and detects light scattered from the sample 6. The repetition frequency of the train of optical pulses generated by the first light source is an integral sub-multiple of the repetition frequency of the train of optical pulses generated by the second light source.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt-like member provided so as to circularly move, a forming member disposed so as to come into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the belt-like member and forms a pressing portion, where a recording material is pressed, between the belt-like member and the forming member, a contact member that comes into contact with the belt-like member, a heating member positioned on a side more distant from the belt-like member as compared to the contact member, and heats the contact member, a receiving member positioned on a side more distant from the belt-like member as compared to the heating member, and receives heat from the heating member, and a heat transfer portion provided so as to be connected to the receiving member and the contact member, and transfers heat to the contact member from the receiving member.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for fabricating a semiconductor thin film includes: substrate surface pretreatment means (101) for pretreating a surface of a substrate; organic layer coating means (102) for coating, with an organic layer, the substrate thus pretreated; focused light irradiation means (103) for irradiating, with focused light, the substrate coated with the organic layer, and for forming a growth-mask layer while controlling layer thickness; first thin film growth means (104) for selectively growing a semiconductor thin film over an area around the growth-mask layer; substrate surface treatment means (105) for, after exposing the surface of the substrate by removing the growth-mask layer, modifying the exposed surface of the substrate; and second thin film growth means (106) for further growing the semiconductor thin film and growing a semiconductor thin film over the modified surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device capable of taking more light into light receiving regions is provided.