Abstract: The present invention is low cost, does not exert a negative influence on the surroundings, has a small group-velocity delay dispersion, efficiently blocks reflected return light such that the laser light does not return to the laser light source, and allows properly polarized laser light to enter a polarization-dependent element in a subsequent stage. An optical device is provided which includes a laser light source, an optical system that transmits laser light emitted from the laser light source, and a polarization-dependent element into which the laser light transmitted by the optical system enters. The characteristics of outgoing light are changed according to a polarization state of the incident light. The optical system includes a reflected-light generator that reflects a part of the transmitted laser light, and ?/4 wave plates are disposed such that the reflected-light generator is disposed therebetween.

Abstract: To enable both observations of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering light and multiphoton fluorescence in a same apparatus so as to observe a specimen by various observation methods. There is provided a laser microscope apparatus comprising: two optical paths for guiding pulsed laser beams having two different frequencies whose frequency difference is approximately equal to a specific molecular vibration frequency in a specimen; a multiplexer for combining the pulsed laser beams guided through these two optical paths; and a frequency dispersion adjuster which is provided on at least one of these two optical paths, and is capable of adjustment to approximately equalize frequency dispersion quantities of the pulsed laser beams guided through the two optical paths.

Abstract: A laser microscope is provided which includes a laser light source, a first optical fiber through which the ultrashort pulse laser light propagates while being positively chirped, a negative dispersion optical system that negatively chirps this propagated laser light, a second optical fiber through which the laser light that has passed through the negative dispersion optical system propagates while being positively chirped, a microscope body that further positively chirps this propagated laser light and irradiates a specimen with the resultant non-chirped ultrashort pulse laser light. The negative dispersion optical system includes a negative dispersion adjuster that adjusts the amount of negative dispersion according to the change in wavelength of the ultrashort pulse laser light outputted from the laser light source or the change in the amount of positive dispersion in the microscope body.

Abstract: A pattern projection apparatus includes: a spatial light modulator having a plurality of pixel devices each independently modulating light, and arranged at an optically conjugate position with respect to a sample; and a control device for dividing a modulation pattern of the spatial light modulator for irradiating the sample with illuminating light of a target form into a plurality of submodulation patterns and controlling the spatial light modulator sequentially for each of the plurality of submodulation patterns.

Abstract: A laser microscope is provided wherein a drop in output power in a positive-dispersion element used as a pulse compressor is reduced, thus improving multiphoton-excitation efficiency. Also, a size of the positive-dispersion element is reduced, thereby making it easier to attach the pulse compressor to a microscope main body and to accommodate the pulse compressor therein, thus improving maneuverability. The invention provides a laser microscope including a laser light source for emitting ultrashort-pulsed laser light; a pulse expander for expanding the ultrashort-pulsed laser light emitted from the laser light source; a large-diameter single-mode fiber for transmitting the ultrashort-pulsed laser light expanded by the pulse expander; a pulse compressor for compressing the ultrashort-pulsed laser light transmitted by the single-mode fiber; and a microscope main body for irradiating a specimen with the ultrashort-pulsed laser light compressed by the pulse compressor.

Abstract: It is an object to perform high-precision observation by compensating group-velocity-delay dispersion and angular dispersion with a simple structure. The invention provides a laser microscope 1 including a light source; an acousto-optic deflector 7 that deflects ultrashort-pulse laser light L emitted from the light source; an angular-dispersion element 8, disposed in front of or after the acousto-optic deflector 7, that applies angular dispersion in a direction opposite to the acousto-optic deflector 7; and a group-velocity-delay dispersion-amount adjusting unit 10 that adjusts the amount of dispersion compensation by moving the angular-dispersion element 8 so as to vary the optical path length at each wavelength between the angular-dispersion element 7 and the acousto-optic deflector 8.

Abstract: Observation is performed using bright, clear multiphoton fluorescence images produced by efficiently generating a multiphoton excitation effect, without the need for a complex interference film structure. The invention employs a laser microscope apparatus including a first dichroic mirror that reflects visible laser light guided via a first light path and that transmits IR pulsed laser light guided via a second light path to combine the first light path and the second light path; an XY galvanometer mirror that scans the laser light from the first dichroic mirror on a specimen; an objective lens that irradiates the specimen with the scanned laser light and that collects fluorescence produced in the specimen; a second dichroic mirror that reflects the visible laser light and transmits the fluorescence from the specimen; and a detection unit that detects the fluorescence transmitted through the second dichroic mirror.

Abstract: It is an object to perform high-precision observation by compensating group-velocity-delay dispersion and angular dispersion with a simple structure. The invention provides a laser microscope 1 including a light source; an acousto-optic deflector 7 that deflects ultrashort-pulse laser light L emitted from the light source; an angular-dispersion element 8, disposed in front of or after the acousto-optic deflector 7, that applies angular dispersion in a direction opposite to the acousto-optic deflector 7; and a group-velocity-delay dispersion-amount adjusting unit 10 that adjusts the amount of dispersion compensation by moving the angular-dispersion element 8 so as to vary the optical path length at each wavelength between the angular-dispersion element 7 and the acousto-optic deflector 8.

Abstract: To enable both observations of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering light and multiphoton fluorescence in a same apparatus so as to observe a specimen by various observation methods. There is provided a laser microscope apparatus comprising: two optical paths for guiding pulsed laser beams having two different frequencies whose frequency difference is approximately equal to a specific molecular vibration frequency in a specimen; a multiplexer for combining the pulsed laser beams guided through these two optical paths; and a frequency dispersion adjuster which is provided on at least one of these two optical paths, and is capable of adjustment to approximately equalize frequency dispersion quantities of the pulsed laser beams guided through the two optical paths.

Abstract: An optical fiber delivery system for delivering ultrashort optical pulses that can efficiently transmit high peak power, ultrashort optical pulses from an optical pulse source to a desired position in an optical apparatus is provided. An optical system including such an optical fiber delivery system is also provided. The optical fiber delivery system includes light waveguide means 20 for receiving high-peak power, ultrashort optical pulses and transmitting the optical pulses, negative group-velocity dispersion generation means 30 for providing negative group-velocity dispersion to the optical pulses transmitted through the light waveguide means 20, and an optical fiber 40 that transmits the optical pulses transmitted through the negative group-velocity dispersion generation means 30 along a desired distance. The incident ultrashort optical pulses that have been injected into the light waveguide means 20 are converted into down-chirped pulses.

Abstract: The present invention is low cost, does not exert a negative influence on the surroundings, has a small group-velocity delay dispersion, efficiently blocks reflected return light such that the laser light does not return to the laser light source, and allows properly polarized laser light to enter a polarization-dependent element in a subsequent stage. An optical device is provided which includes a laser light source, an optical system that transmits laser light emitted from the laser light source, and a polarization-dependent element into which the laser light transmitted by the optical system enters. The characteristics of outgoing light are changed according to a polarization state of the incident light. The optical system includes a reflected-light generator that reflects a part of the transmitted laser light, and ?/4 wave plates are disposed such that the reflected-light generator is disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A laser microscope is provided which includes a laser light source, a first optical fiber through which the ultrashort pulse laser light propagates while being positively chirped, a negative dispersion optical system that negatively chirps this propagated laser light, a second optical fiber through which the laser light that has passed through the negative dispersion optical system propagates while being positively chirped, a microscope body that further positively chirps this propagated laser light and irradiates a specimen with the resultant non-chirped ultrashort pulse laser light. The negative dispersion optical system includes a negative dispersion adjuster that adjusts the amount of negative dispersion according to the change in wavelength of the ultrashort pulse laser light outputted from the laser light source or the change in the amount of positive dispersion in the microscope body.

Abstract: An optical fiber delivery system for delivering ultrashort optical pulses that can efficiently transmit high peak power, ultrashort optical pulses from an optical pulse source to a desired position in an optical apparatus is provided. An optical system including such an optical fiber delivery system is also provided. The optical fiber delivery system includes light waveguide means 20 for receiving high-pea power, ultrashort optical pulses and transmitting the optical pulses, negative group-velocity dispersion generation means 30 for providing negative group-velocity dispersion to the optical pulses transmitted through the light waveguide means 20, and an optical fiber 40 that transmits the optical pulses transmitted through the negative group-velocity dispersion generation means 30 along a desired distance. The incident ultrashort optical pulses that have been injected into the light waveguide means 20 are converted into down-chirped pulses.

Abstract: It is possible to reduce a drop in output power in a positive-dispersion element used as a pulse compressor, thus improving multiphoton-excitation efficiency. Also, reducing the size of the positive-dispersion element makes it easier to attach it to a microscope main body and to accommodate it therein, thus improving maneuverability. The invention provides a laser microscope including a laser light source for emitting ultrashort-pulsed laser light; a pulse expander for expanding the ultrashort-pulsed laser light emitted from the laser light source; a large-diameter single-mode fiber for transmitting the ultrashort-pulsed laser light expanded by the pulse expander; a pulse compressor for compressing the ultrashort-pulsed laser light transmitted by the single-mode fiber; and a microscope main body for irradiating a specimen with the ultrashort-pulsed laser light compressed by the pulse compressor.

Abstract: A compact and inexpensive multiphoton-excitation laser scanning microscope for observing fluorescence by multiphoton excitation having a plurality of wavelengths by irradiating a specimen with ultrashort pulsed laser light having a plurality of wavelengths is provided.

Abstract: In a wavelength detecting apparatus using an etalon, a drift in wavelength measurement by the etalon is stabilized and an adverse influence of out gas is eliminated, so that correct wavelength measurement is realized. The wavelength detecting apparatus includes a housing equipped with a port for use of introducing replacement gas, an etalon set inside the housing, and a moisture-absorbing unit for absorbing at least moisture released inside the housing.

Abstract: A compact and inexpensive multiphoton-excitation laser scanning microscope for observing fluorescence by multiphoton excitation having a plurality of wavelengths by irradiating a specimen with ultrashort pulsed laser light having a plurality of wavelengths is provided.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is composed of a cylindrical connector case firmly connected to a housing and a pressure-detecting chamber formed between the connector case and the housing. The pressure-detecting chamber is confined by a metal diaphragm, an outer peripheral portion of which is firmly held at a portion connecting the connector case and the housing. A relatively thick ring plate is connected to a mounting surface of the housing, and the outer peripheral portion of the metal diaphragm is sandwiched between the ring plate and a pushing plate placed on and connected to the ring plate. Thus, the pressure-detecting chamber containing a sensing element therein is surely sealed even if the housing is made of a material, such as aluminum, which is different from that of the metal diaphragm.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is composed of a cylindrical connector case firmly connected to a housing and a pressure-detecting chamber formed between the connector case and the housing. The pressure-detecting chamber is confined by a metal diaphragm, an outer peripheral portion of which is firmly held at a portion connecting the connector case and the housing. A relatively thick ring plate is connected to a mounting surface of the housing, and the outer peripheral portion of the metal diaphragm is sandwiched between the ring plate and a pushing plate placed on and connected to the ring plate. Thus, the pressure-detecting chamber containing a sensing element therein is surely sealed even if the housing is made of a material, such as aluminum, which is different from that of the metal diaphragm.

Abstract: In a wavelength detecting apparatus using an etalon, a drift in wavelength measurement by the etalon is stabilized and an adverse influence of out gas is eliminated, so that correct wavelength measurement is realized. The wavelength detecting apparatus includes a housing equipped with a port for use of introducing replacement gas, an etalon set inside the housing, and a moisture-absorbing unit for absorbing at least moisture released inside the housing.