Abstract: The laser device includes a laser crystal, a resonator including a pair of mirrors between which the laser crystal is interposed, a Q switch that is disposed on an optical path of the resonator and controls a Q value of the resonator, and a Brewster thin-film polarizer that is disposed on the optical path of the resonator and transmits selectively p-polarized light. The thin-film polarizer has wavelength selectivity in which a p-polarized light transmittance at a first wavelength exhibiting a maximum gain of the laser crystal is 5% or more to 25% or less, the p-polarized light transmittance monotonically increases as a wavelength becomes longer than the first wavelength, and a maximum transmittance is exhibited at a third wavelength. The laser device oscillates laser light at a second wavelength that is a wavelength longer than the first wavelength and shorter than or equal to the third wavelength.

Abstract: A solid-state laser device includes a resonator composed of a pair of mirrors, a laser rod disposed in the resonator, and a laser chamber. The resonator and the laser rod are disposed in a housing. The laser rod is inserted through a hole of the laser chamber and is supported in a state in which two end portions are exposed. An O-ring is disposed at an exposed root of at least one rod end portion exposed from the laser chamber. The solid-state laser device includes a cover member that is disposed on a rod side surface of the rod end portion between the O-ring and a rod end surface and that blocks incidence of stray light, which is generated in the housing, on the O-ring.

Abstract: A solid-state laser device includes a laser rod made of an alexandrite crystal; a flash lamp that outputs excitation light for exciting the laser rod, a glass tube for a lamp being made of quartz glass that at least blocks deep ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 nm to 300 nm, and transmits visible light having a wavelength of 400 nm or more; and a laser chamber that contains a tubular reflector that includes a hole part containing at least a portion of the laser rod or a portion of the flash lamp and is made of a porous material of polytetrafluoroethylene, an inner wall surface of the hole part being as a reflecting surface that reflects the excitation light.

Abstract: Provided is a solid-state laser device in which a linear resonator including an output mirror and a rear mirror, a laser rod, and optical members are provided on a common base and are contained in a housing having the base as a portion. A holding part is provided to hold an excitation light source that extends parallel to the laser rod on a side of the laser rod opposite to the base. The optical members including a Q-switch are disposed between the laser rod and the rear mirror. An upper end position of the output mirror is at a position lower than a lower end position of the excitation light source held by the holding part, with the base as a reference. The holding part holds the excitation light source so as to be capable of being inserted and extracted with respect to the output mirror side in a longitudinal direction of the excitation light source.

Abstract: A solid-state laser device includes a laser rod made of an alexandrite crystal; a flash lamp that outputs excitation light for exciting the laser rod, a glass tube for a lamp being made of quartz glass that at least blocks deep ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 nm to 300 nm, and transmits visible light having a wavelength of 400 nm or more; and a laser chamber that contains a tubular reflector that includes a hole part containing at least a portion of the laser rod or a portion of the flash lamp and is made of a porous material of polytetrafluoroethylene, an inner wall surface of the hole part being as a reflecting surface that reflects the excitation light.

Abstract: A solid-state laser device includes a resonator composed of a pair of mirrors, a laser rod disposed in the resonator, and a laser chamber. The resonator and the laser rod are disposed in a housing. The laser rod is inserted through a hole of the laser chamber and is supported in a state in which two end portions are exposed. An O-ring is disposed at an exposed root of at least one rod end portion exposed from the laser chamber. The solid-state laser device includes a cover member that is disposed on a rod side surface of the rod end portion between the O-ring and a rod end surface and that blocks incidence of stray light, which is generated in the housing, on the O-ring.

Abstract: Provided is a solid-state laser device in which a linear resonator including an output mirror and a rear mirror, a laser rod, and optical members are provided on a common base and are contained in a housing having the base as a portion. A holding part is provided to hold an excitation light source that extends parallel to the laser rod on a side of the laser rod opposite to the base. The optical members including a Q-switch are disposed between the laser rod and the rear mirror. An upper end position of the output mirror is at a position lower than a lower end position of the excitation light source held by the holding part, with the base as a reference. The holding part holds the excitation light source so as to be capable of being inserted and extracted with respect to the output mirror side in a longitudinal direction of the excitation light source.

Abstract: Disclosed are a laser device which uses alexandrite crystal and is capable of suppressing abnormal oscillation even if the size thereof is reduced and suppressing damage to an AR coating on a Q switch or alexandrite crystal, and a photoacoustic measurement device. A laser rod 11 includes alexandrite crystal. A flash lamp 12 irradiates the laser rod 11 with excitation light. A resonator includes a pair of mirrors 14 and 15 with the laser rod 11 sandwiched therebetween. A Q switch 16 is inserted into the optical path of the resonator and controls the Q value of the resonator. A polarizer 17 is inserted into the resonator and is a non-coated Brewster polarizer which selectively transmits light in a predetermined polarization direction among light emitted from the laser rod.

Abstract: A unimorph-type ultrasound probe includes a substrate in which a plurality of openings each having a predetermined shape is formed, a plurality of vibration plates formed on the substrate so as to close one end of each of the plurality of openings, a plurality of piezoelectric element portions which is formed on a surface of the plurality of vibration plates and each has a piezoelectric substance layer and a pair of electrode layers formed on both surfaces of the piezoelectric substance layer, and a covering layer which is disposed on a surface of the substrate such that the plurality of piezoelectric element portions is embedded in the covering layer, and is formed of an organic resin having an acoustic impedance of 1.5×106 kg/m2 s to 4×106 kg/m2 s and a Shore A hardness of equal to or less than 75.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe comprises: a backing material; a plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements arranged on a top surface of the backing material; a first acoustic matching layer separated into a plurality of pieces disposed on the plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements; and a second acoustic matching layer separated into a plurality of pieces disposed on the first acoustic matching layer, wherein the second acoustic matching layer comprises an upper organic layer constituting a plurality of organic piezoelectric elements, and a lower organic layer for performing, together with the upper organic layer, acoustic matching for the plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: An optimal value calculator calculates, based on angle information obtained from a first angle sensor provided in an ultrasound probe, the direction of transmission of an ultrasonic beam transmitted from the ultrasound probe, and the radiation source optimal angle of a radiation source at which the direction of radiation from the radiation source is substantially parallel to the calculated direction of transmission of the ultrasonic beam and the optimal detection angle of a radiographic image generator at which the normal of a detection surface of the radiographic image generator is substantially parallel to the calculated direction of transmission of the ultrasonic beam.

Abstract: Disclosed are a laser device which uses alexandrite crystal and is capable of suppressing abnormal oscillation even if the size thereof is reduced and suppressing damage to an AR coating on a Q switch or alexandrite crystal, and a photoacoustic measurement device. A laser rod 11 includes alexandrite crystal. A flash lamp 12 irradiates the laser rod 11 with excitation light. A resonator includes a pair of mirrors 14 and 15 with the laser rod 11 sandwiched therebetween. A Q switch 16 is inserted into the optical path of the resonator and controls the Q value of the resonator. A polarizer 17 is inserted into the resonator and is a non-coated Brewster polarizer which selectively transmits light in a predetermined polarization direction among light emitted from the laser rod.

Abstract: A unimorph-type ultrasound probe includes a substrate in which a plurality of openings each having a predetermined shape is formed, a plurality of vibration plates formed on the substrate so as to close one end of each of the plurality of openings, a plurality of piezoelectric element portions which is formed on a surface of the plurality of vibration plates and each has a piezoelectric substance layer and a pair of electrode layers formed on both surfaces of the piezoelectric substance layer, and a covering layer which is disposed on a surface of the substrate such that the plurality of piezoelectric element portions is embedded in the covering layer, and is formed of an organic resin having an acoustic impedance of 1.5×106 kg/m2s to 4×106 kg/m2s and a Shore A hardness of equal to or less than 75.

Abstract: Acoustic waves and photoacoustic waves are detected efficiently in a photoacoustic imaging apparatus configured to obtain acoustic images as well, to enable obtainment of high quality acoustic images and photoacoustic images. A probe for a photoacoustic imaging apparatus is equipped with: first piezoelectric bodies that detect acoustic waves reflected by a subject after the acoustic waves are irradiated onto the subject; and second piezoelectric bodies that detect photoacoustic waves generated within the subject due to irradiation of light after the light is irradiated onto the subject. Piezoelectric bodies made from an inorganic material are employed as the first piezoelectric bodies, and piezoelectric bodies made from an organic material are employed as the second piezoelectric bodies.

Abstract: An optimal value calculator calculates, based on angle information obtained from a first angle sensor provided in an ultrasound probe, the direction of transmission of an ultrasonic beam transmitted from the ultrasound probe, and the radiation source optimal angle of a radiation source at which the direction of radiation from the radiation source is substantially parallel to the calculated direction of transmission of the ultrasonic beam and the optimal detection angle of a radiographic image generator at which the normal of a detection surface of the radiographic image generator is substantially parallel to the calculated direction of transmission of the ultrasonic beam.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe comprises: a backing material; a plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements arranged on a top surface of the backing material; a first acoustic matching layer separated into a plurality of pieces disposed on the plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements; and a second acoustic matching layer separated into a plurality of pieces disposed on the first acoustic matching layer, wherein the second acoustic matching layer comprises an upper organic layer constituting a plurality of organic piezoelectric elements, and a lower organic layer for performing, together with the upper organic layer, acoustic matching for the plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: Acoustic waves and photoacoustic waves are detected efficiently in a photoacoustic imaging apparatus configured to obtain acoustic images as well, to enable obtainment of high quality acoustic images and photoacoustic images. A probe for a photoacoustic imaging apparatus is equipped with: first piezoelectric bodies that detect acoustic waves reflected by a subject after the acoustic waves are irradiated onto the subject; and second piezoelectric bodies that detect photoacoustic waves generated within the subject due to irradiation of light after the light is irradiated onto the subject. Piezoelectric bodies made from an inorganic material are employed as the first piezoelectric bodies, and piezoelectric bodies made from an organic material are employed as the second piezoelectric bodies.

Abstract: Light is prevented from being irradiated onto positions different from portions at which photoacoustic images are to be generated. Acoustic waves are transmitted from a probe, and the probe detects reflected acoustic signals of the transmitted ultrasonic waves. The features of the reflected acoustic signals detected by the probe and the features of reflected acoustic signals, which are obtained in advance when the probe is at a position where a photoacoustic image is to be generated, are compared. Light is irradiated onto a subject if it is judged that the features of the reflected acoustic signals match. Photoacoustic signals generated within the subject due to irradiation of laser light are detected, and a photoacoustic image is generated based on the photoacoustic signals.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transducer is provided. The ultrasonic transducer includes a first piezoelectric layer for transmitting ultrasonic waves to an object in a body. A second piezoelectric layer receives the ultrasonic waves reflected by the object. An acoustic matching layer is disposed between the first and second piezoelectric layers, for constituting an electrode common to the first and second piezoelectric layers. Preferably, the second piezoelectric layer is positioned nearer to the object than the first piezoelectric layer. The first piezoelectric layer is inorganic, and the second piezoelectric layer is organic. The acoustic matching layer contains metal, for example, silver. In one embodiment, the second piezoelectric layer includes plural receiving element regions, arranged in a first direction, and having volumes different from one another.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a liquid discharge head, liquid in a pressure generation chamber is pressurized by a piezoelectric driving force of a piezoelectric element, and is discharged from a nozzle communicated with the pressure generation chamber. The method is characterized by the steps of providing a flow passage substrate incorporating the pressure generation chamber, anodically joining a diaphragm to the flow passage substrate, forming electrode layers and a piezoelectric film of the piezoelectric element on the diaphragm, and crystallizing the piezoelectric film during or after the lamination at a crystallization temperature not higher than a strain point of the diaphragm.