Abstract: A SERS element 2 comprises a substrate 21 having a front face 21a; a fine structure part 24, formed on the front face 21a, having a plurality of pillars 27; a first conductor layer 31 formed on the front face 21a and fine structure part 24 so as to cover the front face 21a and fine structure part 24 continuously; and a second conductor layer 32 formed on the first conductor layer 31 so as to form a plurality of gaps G1, G2 for surface-enhanced Raman scattering; while the first and second conductor layers 31, 32 are constituted by the same material.

Abstract: A concentration measurement method is a method for measuring a concentration of an analyte in a measurement solution containing the analyte having reducing action, and includes a mixing step of preparing a mixture solution by mixing a metal ion solution, a complexing agent, and a pH adjusting agent to prepare an intermediate mixture solution, and mixing the intermediate mixture solution and the measurement solution, a metal microstructure generation step of generating a metal microstructure on a support by reducing metal ions in the mixture solution by the reducing action of the analyte in the mixture solution, a measurement step of measuring an optical response of the metal microstructure on the support, and an analysis step of determining a concentration of the analyte in the measurement solution on the basis of a measurement result of the optical response.

Abstract: A SERS unit 1A comprises a SERS element 2 having a substrate and an optical function part 20 formed on the substrate, the optical function part 20 for generating surface-enhanced Raman scattering; a measurement board 3 supporting the SERS element 2 upon measurement; and a holding part 4 mechanically holding the SERS element 2 in the measurement board 3.

Abstract: An SERS unit includes a support 10 that includes a cavity 11 provided with an opening 12, an optical functional portion 20 that is disposed in the cavity 11 to face the opening 12 and causes surface enhanced Raman scattering, and a package 5 that accommodates the support 10 and is evacuated. The package 5 is in contact with at least an edge 12a of the opening 12, and is bent toward the optical functional portion 20 in a state in which the package 5 is spaced apart from the optical functional portion 20 in the opening 12.

Abstract: A spatial information visualization apparatus in an embodiment includes a storage, a vacant space processor, a spatial information generator, and an image generator. The storage stores design dimensions of a target space, and measurement information indicating coordinates of a measurement point of the target space measured by scanning the target space from a plurality of different reference points in the target space, for each of the reference points. The vacant space processor specifies a vacant space existing in the measured space stored in the storage, on the basis of the coordinates of the measurement point of the target space included in the measurement information read for each of the reference points from the storage, coordinates of the reference point, and the design dimensions of the space.

Abstract: A SERS element comprises a substrate; a fine structure part formed on a front face of the substrate and having a plurality of pillars; and a conductor layer formed on the fine structure part and constituting an optical function part for generating surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The conductor layer has a base part formed along the front face of the substrate and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the base part at respective positions corresponding to the pillars. The base part and the protrusions form a plurality of gaps in the conductor layer, each of the gaps having an interstice gradually decreasing in the projecting direction of the pillar.

Abstract: An SERS element includes a substrate, a fine structure portion formed on a surface of the substrate and having a plurality of pillars, and a conductor layer formed on the fine structure portion and constituting an optical functional portion that causes surface-enhanced Raman scattering. A groove is provided in an outer surface of each pillar. A plurality of gaps are formed in the conductor layer by forming the conductor layer on the outer surface of each pillar in a state in which at least a portion of an inner surface of the groove is exposed.

Abstract: A surface-enhanced Raman scattering unit comprises a measurement board used upon measurement; a surface-enhanced Raman scattering element, secured to the measurement board, having a substrate and an optical function part, formed on the substrate, for generating surface-enhanced Raman scattering; and a pressing member, secured to the measurement board, having a ring-shaped contact part contacting a peripheral part of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering element and pressing the surface-enhanced Raman scattering element toward the measurement board.

Abstract: A SERS unit 1A comprises a SERS element 2 having a substrate and an optical function part 20 formed on the substrate, the optical function part 20 for generating surface-enhanced Raman scattering; a measurement board 3 supporting the SERS element 2 upon measurement; and a holding part 4 mechanically holding the SERS element 2 in the measurement board 3.

Abstract: A SERS element comprises a substrate; a fine structure part formed on a front face of the substrate and having a plurality of pillars; and a conductor layer formed on the fine structure part and constituting an optical function part for generating surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The conductor layer has a base part formed along the front face of the substrate and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the base part at respective positions corresponding to the pillars. The base part and the protrusions form a plurality of gaps in the conductor layer, each of the gaps having an interstice gradually decreasing in a direction perpendicular to the projecting direction of the pillar.

Abstract: A SERS element comprises a substrate having a front face; a fine structure part formed on the front face and having a plurality of pillars; and a conductor layer formed on the fine structure part and constituting an optical function part for generating surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The conductor layer has a base part formed along the front face and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the base part at respective positions corresponding to the pillars. The base part is formed with a plurality of grooves surrounding the respective pillars when seen in the projecting direction of the pillars, while an end part of the protrusion is located within the groove corresponding thereto.