Abstract: An optical probe includes a tubular outer envelope and a optical fiber which extends in the longitudinal direction of the outer envelope inside the outer envelope. By fixing a light deflecting element to the optical fiber and rotating the optical fiber by a driver, the light deflecting element is rotated. A protective member which has a higher resistance to wear than the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber is fixed to a part of the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber in a position near the front end of the optical fiber and is borne for rotation by a bearing portion on the probe outer envelope.

Abstract: Light emitted from the light source unit is divided into measuring light and reference light. An optical path length of the measuring light or the reference light which has been divided by the light dividing means is adjusted. Interference light of the reflected light and the reference light is detected and a tomographic image of the object is obtained on the basis of the detected interference light. The optical path length is adjusted by a reflecting mirror which reflects the measuring light or the reference light radiated from the optical fiber, a first lens which is disposed between the reflecting mirror and the optical fiber and a second lens which collects the measuring light or the reference light made parallel by the first lens on the reflecting mirror and makes parallel the measuring light or the reference light reflected by the reflecting mirror.

Abstract: A laser module includes: a chassis having a light-output window from which one or more laser beams are outputted; a hermetically sealed package which is fixed to the chassis; one or more semiconductor laser elements which are arranged in the hermetically sealed package, and emit the one or more laser beams; a transparent member which is arranged to cover the light-output window; an optical fiber which has a light-entrance end face, and is arranged outside the chassis so that the light-entrance end face is in contact with the transparent member; and an optical condensing system which is arranged inside the chassis, and makes the one or more laser beams pass through the transparent member and be condensed on the light-entrance end face. The transparent member and the optical fiber are detachably attached to the chassis.

Abstract: An endoscope system has an insertion portion and a control portion connected to a base end portion of the insertion portion. An illumination system includes a light guide having a front end positioned near the front end of the insertion portion and a rear end positioned rearward of the base end of the insertion portion, phosphors disposed in the light guide toward the front end thereof and an illumination light source which is positioned toward the rear end of the light guide and emits stimulating light exciting the phosphors.

Abstract: A light source module includes at least one light source, first optical waveguide which causes light entering therein from a light inlet end face to emanate from a light outlet end face, and an inlet optical system which collects light emitted from the light source and couples it to the light inlet end face of the first optical waveguide. The light inlet end face of the first optical waveguide is larger than the light outlet end face thereof in cross-sectional area of the core.

Abstract: A wavelength selecting optical element such as a narrow band-pass filter or the like is provided between a semiconductor laser and a light wavelength conversion element formed of a bulk-shaped wavelength conversion crystal. The wavelength selecting optical element selects a wavelength of a laser beam which is to be reflected by an end surface of the light wavelength conversion element to be fed back to the semiconductor laser.

Abstract: A light wavelength converting element which can reduce an amount of light fed-back to a semiconductor laser. The light wavelength converting element converts a wavelength of a fundamental wave which enters from a first end surface side of an optical waveguide to thereby emit a converted wavelength wave from a second end surface side thereof. The second end surface is inclined with respect to the side surface of the optical waveguide. Also provided is a wavelength stabilized laser having a semiconductor laser, a device which feeds a laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser back to the semiconductor laser, and a band-pass filter. An optical length between the semiconductor laser and the device is made to be longer than a coherent length of the semiconductor laser, thus improving linearity of a current vs. light output characteristic.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser module is formed by directly bonding a semiconductor laser, which has a wavelength tuning mechanism, and an optical wavelength conversion element which exits laser beam of the second harmonic with the wavelength of the exited laser beam being the fundamental wave. A center wavelength of stimulated emission of the semiconductor laser is tunable, and is locked so as to coincide with a phase matching wavelength of the optical wavelength conversion element. The semiconductor laser and the optical wavelength conversion element are directly bonded together at an end surface portion of an optical wavelength of the optical wavelength conversion element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light wavelength conversion module in which an output light amount of a light wavelength conversion element increases monotonically as a driving current of a semiconductor laser increases. The light wavelength conversion module includes the semiconductor laser having an external resonator provided with a narrow band-pass filter, and the light wavelength conversion element for converting a laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser to a second harmonic wave. A semiconductor laser, which emits a laser beam including a plurality of longitudinal mode spectra within an acceptable wavelength band of the light wavelength conversion element, is used in the light wavelength conversion module.

Abstract: A surface plasmon sensor is formed by a dielectric block, a metal film which is formed on one face of the dielectric block and is brought into contact with a sample, a light source emitting a light beam, an optical system which causes the light beam to enter the dielectric block so that the light beam is reflected in total reflection at the interface of the dielectric block and the metal film and various angles of incidence of the light beam to the interface of the dielectric block and the metal film including an angle of incidence at which surface plasmon is generated can be obtained, and a photodetector which is able to detect the intensity of the light beam reflected in total reflection from the interface for the various angles of incidence. A laser provided with an oscillation wavelength stabilizing system for stabilizing the wavelength at which the laser oscillates is used as the light source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light wavelength conversion module in which an output light amount of a light wavelength conversion element increases monotonically as a driving current of a semiconductor laser increases. The light wavelength conversion module includes the semiconductor laser having an external resonator provided with a narrow band-pass filter, and the light wavelength conversion element for converting a laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser to a second harmonic wave. A semiconductor laser, which emits a laser beam including a plurality of longitudinal mode spectra within an acceptable wavelength band of the light wavelength conversion element, is used in the light wavelength conversion module.

Abstract: An optical wavelength conversion system includes an optical waveguide type optical wavelength conversion element having periodic domain reversals, and a semiconductor laser which generates a laser beam which is caused to enter the optical wavelength conversion element as a fundamental wave. A part of the laser beam is split by a beam splitter upstream of the optical wavelength conversion element, and the split part of the laser beam is reflected by a mirror and fed back to the semiconductor laser. A narrow band pass filter is disposed between the beam splitter and the mirror.

Abstract: An electro-optical waveguide element with reduced DC drift phenomena is presented. The waveguide element is made up of an optical waveguide formed on a substrate possessing electro-optical effects, at least a pair of electrodes closely attached to the optical waveguide with a buffer layer sandwiched between the substrate and the electrodes, and a driver circuit for applying a voltage between the electrodes. The buffer layer is made of a material having a dielectric constant in the range of 20-1000. The buffer layer is more preferably made of a material having a dielectric constant in the range of 20-200. The material of the buffer layer is selected from the group consisting of HfO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, SrTiO.sub.3, BaTiO.sub.3, LiNbO.sub.3, LiTaO.sub.3, Pb(Zr, Ti)O.sub.3, and (Pb, La)(Zr, Ti)O.sub.3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel antifungal antibiotics herein designated as pradimicin L and pradimicin FL, and derivatives thereof. Pradimicins L and FL are produced by Actinomadura verrucosospora subsp. neohibisca strain R103-3, ATCC No. 53930.

Abstract: An optical wavelength conversion element includes an optical waveguide which is formed on a ferroelectric crystal substrate having a nonlinear optical effect and extends along one surface of the substrate, and domain reversals which are periodically formed in the optical waveguide and arranged in a direction. The orientation of the spontaneous polarization of the substrate is reversed in the domain reversals and the optical wavelength conversion element converts the wavelength of a fundamental wave travelling in the direction in which the domain reversals are arranged under the guidance of the optical waveguide. The orientation of the spontaneous polarization of the substrate is at an angle .theta. larger than 0.degree. and smaller than 90.degree. to the surface of the substrate in a plane normal to the direction in which the fundamental wave is guided.

Abstract: An electro-optic optical modulating apparatus comprises an optical waveguide, which has electro-optic effects, and at least a single pair of electrodes, which are located in the vicinity of the optical waveguide. A driving circuit applies a radio-frequency voltage across the electrodes. A modulating circuit modulates the amplitude of the radio-frequency voltage in accordance with a predetermined signal. The amount of a modulated optical wave is thus prevented from fluctuating due to a DC drift phenomenon.

Abstract: A waveguide type electro-optical element is made up of a proton-exchanged optical waveguide formed on a substrate which possesses an electro-optical effect. At least one pair of electrodes is formed on the substrate adjacent to the optical waveguide with a buffer layer being disposed between the substrate and the electrodes. A guide beam propagating through the waveguide is diffracted as a result of the application of a voltage to the electrodes. The buffer layer is made of material which has a specific resistance ranging between 10.sup.7 -10.sup.11 .OMEGA.cm. The optical waveguide may be of a form having a split-type optical waveguide consisting of the combination of two Y-shaped waveguides, and a pair of channel optical waveguides constituting a directional coupler.

Abstract: An optical element consists of an LN or LT crystal doped with MgO or ZnO. A +z surface and a -z surface of the crystal are connected to each other by means of a metal jig and an indium sheet. The +z surface and the -z surface may also be connected to each other by means of an electrically conductive wire material. The optical element may be a bulk crystal, an optical waveguide type electro-optical modulator, or a bifurcated interference type optical modulator. In this way, an optical damage resistant property of the optical element is improved.

Abstract: A method of forming an image in which a silver halide photographic material having on a waterproof resin coated support, which contains titanium dioxide in the resin, one or more light-sensitive layers each containing silver halide emulsion grains where at least one light-sensitive layer has been spectrally sensitized in accordance with the oscillating wavelength of a laser ray to be applied to the material is exposed by scanning exposure for a period of exposure time, per pixel, of 1.times.10.sup.-7 second or less with a scanning exposure device equipped with an optical modulator capable of varying the quantity of light in plural stages, to form a photographic image. The quantity of the reflection light from the photographic material at the oscillating wavelength of the laser beam is 30% or less of the quantity of the incident light to the same.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus comprises an optical waveguide having electro-optic effects, grating-shaped electrodes located on the optical waveguide, a driving circuit for applying a voltage across the electrodes, and a scanning device. A voltage sweep device applies a voltage, which is swept within a predetermined range, across the electrodes within a period, during which an optical wave having been radiated out of the optical waveguide is impinging upon a region outside of an effective scanning region with respect to a recording material. A photodetector detects the optical power of the radiated optical wave impinging upon the region outside of the effective scanning region. A correction device calculates an offset voltage VOFF, which corresponds to the minimum diffraction efficiency of the optical wave guided through the optical waveguide, from an output of the photodetector when the swept voltage is applied across the electrodes.