Abstract: An optical recording medium is provided with inorganic bi-layer films that were prepared by magnetic sputtering. A first recording layer containing an element selected from Si or Ge, and a second recording layer contacts with the first recording layer and containing a primary component selected from Ta, Ni or Mo. This optical media can record information by way of microscopic structure changing of bi-layer recording films after laser irradiation.

Abstract: A write-once information recording medium comprises a transparent resin substrate having a concentrically or spirally shaped groove and a land formed thereon, and a recording firm formed on the groove and the land of the transparent resin substrate, a recording mark being formed on the medium by emission of a short wavelength laser light, the recording medium having an L to H feature in which a light reflectivity of the recording mark portion formed by the emission of the short wavelength laser light is higher than a light reflectivity obtained before the emission of the short wavelength laser light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an Ag alloy film. Particularly, it is preferably used as a reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film for an optical information recording medium having high thermal conductivity/high reflectance/high durability in the field of optical information recording media, an electromagnetic-shielding film excellent in Ag aggregation resistance, and an optical reflective film on the back of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, or the like. The Ag alloy film of the present invention comprises an Ag base alloy containing Bi and/or Sb in a total amount of 0.005 to 10% (in terms of at %). Further, the present invention relates to a sputtering target used for the deposition of such an Ag alloy film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an optical recording medium having: a supporting substrate; a light transmission layer, which transmits a laser beam; and an information layer formed between the supporting substrate and the light transmission layer, which includes: applying a resin composition on the information layer by a spin coating method to form a coating film, wherein the resin composition contains, as main components: (A) a radical-curing urethane(meth)acrylate, which is obtained by reacting (a-1) a compound having three or more isocyanate groups binding to an aliphatic carbon atom per one molecule thereof and (a-2) a polycaprolacton-modified hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate; and (B) a radical-curing monomer having a viscosity of 400 mPa.s or less at 25° C., curing the coating film by irradiating the coating film with an ultraviolet light or an electron beam to form the light transmission layer.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium is provided having a superior jitter property even when an organic substance is used for a recording layer. The optical information recording medium has a substrate having a penetrating hole in a central portion thereof and a spiral pre-groove provided in one surface of the substrate, a reflection layer provided on the surface of the substrate in which the pre-groove is provided, a recording layer which is provided on the reflection layer and which is composed of an organic substance including a dye, and a light transmissive cover layer provided on the recording layer. In the optical information recording medium, the cover layer has an elastic modulus of 40 MPa or less at 25° C. in an interface region facing the recording layer.

Abstract: An optical disc with uniform appearance, a method and system for manufacturing an optical disc, and a method and system for printing on an optical disc are provided. The optical disc includes a hub area formed between a first inner radius and a first outer radius, and a data area formed between a second inner radius and a second outer radius. The hub area and the data area include grooves and lands formed between a predetermined radius and the second outer radius. The predetermined radius lies at the first inner radius or between the first inner radius and the first outer radius. This enables uniform appearance across an area between the predetermined radius and the second outer radius.

Abstract: A storing medium with undifferentiated visual aspect, a method and system for manufacturing a storing medium, and a method and system for printing on a storing medium are provided. The storing medium includes a base substrate and a print substrate onto which one or more labels can be printed. The base substrate includes a first region formed between a first inner periphery and a first outer periphery, and a second region formed between a second inner periphery and a second outer periphery. One or more first tracks are formed in the first region, and one or more second tracks are formed up to a pre-defined periphery from the second outer periphery in the second region. The pre-defined periphery substantially lies at the second inner periphery or between the second inner periphery and the second outer periphery. The first tracks have a first set of undulations formed thereon, and the second tracks have a second set of undulations formed thereon.

Abstract: Information about a variation ratio of the recording power sensitivity, which varies depending on whether another recording layer is recorded or unrecorded, is recorded onto a disc control information area (DI) in advance. Moreover, based on this recording-power-sensitivity variation information, recording-power compensation is performed. The corresponding recording-power compensation method is classified into three types: (1) type in which the recording is performed by judging the recorded/unrecorded states of another layer, (2) type in which, instead of judging the recorded/unrecorded states of another layer, the recording is performed using an intermediate power of the optimum powers for both of the recorded/unrecorded states, and (3) combination of (1) and (2).

Abstract: A rewritable optical recording medium including: a substrate having a guide groove formed thereon, a phase-change type recording layer, a portion in a crystalline state of the phase-change type recording layer corresponds to an unrecorded or erased state, and a portion in an amorphous state of the phase-change type recording layer corresponds to a recorded state, so that an amorphous mark corresponding to the recorded state is formed upon irradiation with a recording laser beam. The phase-change type recording layer contains Sb as a main component, and further contains Ge and/or Te, a content of Ge is from 1 atomic % to 30 atomic %, and a content of Te is from 10 atomic % to 30 atomic %, and in the phase-change type recording layer, Sb/Te is at least 4.5, and the atomic ratio of Ge to Te is from 1:3 to 1:20.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, in a phase change optical disk which has a substrate and a multi-layered including an interference film, phase change recording film, interface film, and reflecting film, and in which information is reversibly recorded in or erased from the recording film by using light, an element (e.g., Ge or Te) forming the phase change recording film has segregation or a concentration distribution in the thickness direction of the recording film from a portion in contact with the phase change recording film.

Abstract: The optical storage medium comprises a substrate layer, and a data layer having a mark/space data structure with data arranged in tracks on the substrate layer, wherein between neighboring tracks alternatingly a groove section or a land section without a groove is arranged. The tracks, groove sections and land sections may be arranged by providing a single spiral, two spirals, or four spirals on the optical storage medium. The optical storage medium is in particular an optical disc comprising a nonlinear layer with a super-resolution structure arranged above the data layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information recording and reproducing device includes a resistive layer directly or indirectly added to a recording layer and having electric resistivity larger than electric resistivity in the low-resistance state of the recording layer. A first compound contained in the recording layer comprises a composite compound includes two or more kinds of cationic elements, at least one of the two or more kinds of cationic elements is a transition element having a d orbit filled incompletely with electrons, a shortest distance between cationic elements adjacent to each other is 0.32 nm or less.

Abstract: A polycrystalline aluminum thin film is made of polycrystals of an alloy of aluminum. The polycrystalline aluminum thin film includes a first additive which is distributed with even concentration over an inside of each crystal grain and an interface of the crystal grain and a second additive which is distributed with higher concentration in the interface of the crystal grain than in the inside of the crystal grain.

Abstract: An information recording medium with high recording sensitivity, superior repeat overwriting capability and favorable signal storage stability during information recording is offered. For this purpose, an information recording medium comprises one or more information layers that include a phase-change recording layer, wherein at least one of the information layers includes, a Cr-containing layer containing Cr and O that contact with one side of a surface of the recording layer, and an In-containing layer containing In and O that contact with the other side of the surface of the recording layer.

Abstract: If an ultraviolet curing resin is colored by contamination by another substance, there have been issues regarding increased cost and the environmental burden of treating the waste solution due to an inability to recycle the resin as it is. The ultraviolet curing resin that is in a colored, uncured state is decolored in the present invention by irradiation of light having a wavelength in the vicinity of the maximum absorption wavelength of the coloring material, and then recycled. As a result, it is possible to reduce costs and contribute to the protection of the environment.

Abstract: A novel indolium compound of general formula (I) and an optical recording material containing the indolium compound. In general formula (I), ring A is a benzene ring, etc.; R1 is a group of general formula (II), etc.; R2 is a C1-C30 organic group, etc.; Y1 is a C1-C10 alkyl group, etc.; Z1 is, e.g., a C1-C8 alkyl group optionally substituted with a halogen group and optionally interrupted by —O—, etc.; Z2 is, e.g., a C1-C8 alkyl group optionally substituted with a halogen group and optionally interrupted by —O—, etc.; a is an integer of 0 to 6; b is an integer of 0 to 5; Anq- is a q-valent anion; q is 1 or 2; and p is a number necessary to neutralize an electric charge.

Abstract: A multiple-layer optical information recording medium is provided. An information recording layer that is the farthest from the reading side is denoted by L0, L1, L2, . . . and L5 information recording layers are successively formed in the direction of the optical axis. Five spacers having thicknesses t0 to t4 are interposed between the information recording layers. The spacers satisfy the relationships [?tm>ACCT×Rm+1×Rm+2×Tm+12×n?/(2NA2)] and [?tm?sum>ACCT×Rm+a×Rm+b×Tab2×n?/(2NA2)]. The thicknesses of the spacers of the six-layer disc satisfy the relationship t1>t3>t0>t2>t4. In addition, the thicknesses of the spacers are properly designated so that the influence of multiple reflections is removed.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a read-only information recording portion, and a BCA (Burst Cutting Area) portion formed by laser marking. A reflective film on an information recording surface of the read-only information recording portion and a reflective film on the BCA portion are formed of the same material. The reflective film includes Ag as a main component, and at least one of Nd and Gd, and at least one of Sn and In as components; the reflective film including at least one of Nd and Gd of 0.1 atom % or more and 3.0 atom % or less in total and at least one of Sn and In of 3 atom % or more and 12 atom % or less in total. Recorded information is reproduced from the information recording surface of the read-only information recording portion and a BCA signal is reproduced from the BCA portion, using blue-violet laser reproducing light.

Abstract: A method for improving read stability of optical recording medium is disclosed. In the method, the thickness of a recording layer of an optical recording medium is adjusted to control the disc absorptivity, and the recording layer thickness is matched with a power difference between a laser write power (Pw) and a laser erase power (Pe), so as to control the optimal laser power for irradiating and accordingly changing the optical properties of the recording layer. It is found that by using properly increased recording layer thickness corresponding to a given disc absorptivity, and properly matching the recording layer thickness with a properly increased power difference, the read stability and recording characteristics of the optical recording media can be improved without significantly changing the layer structure and writing strategy of the optical recording medium.

Abstract: A data storage master disk and method of making a data storage master disk. The data storage disk master is for use in a data storage disk replication process. The data storage disk molding processes produces replica disks having a surface relief pattern with replica lands and replica grooves. The method includes providing a master substrate. The master substrate is at least partially covered with a layer of photosensitive material. A surface relief pattern having master lands and master grooves is recorded in the data storage disk master, including the steps of exposing and developing the photosensitive material is controlled to form master grooves extending down to a substrate interface between the master substrate and the layer of photosensitive material, such that the width of the master grooves at the substrate interface corresponds to a desired width of the replica lands.

Abstract: A hardcoat agent composition comprising a fluorine-containing polyether compound (A) having a perfluoropolyether unit, urethane bond and active energy ray reactive group and a curable compound (B) having equal to or more than 2 active energy ray polymerizing groups in the molecule. An optical information medium having a film substance composed of single or multiple layers containing at least the recording layer 4 or the reflecting layer on the supporting substrate 20, the optical information medium wherein at least either the surface of the supporting substrate 20 or that of the above-mentioned film substance is formed by the hardcoat layer 8 containing a curable substance of the above-mentioned hardcoat agent composition.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes: a substrate having a first principal surface and a second principal surface; one or plural information signal layers formed on the first principal surface of the substrate for undergoing recording or reproduction of information signals upon irradiation with light; and a barrier layer formed on the second principal surface of the substrate for suppressing the gas release from the second principal surface of the substrate, wherein an area of a region exposing from the barrier layer of the second principal surface of the substrate is not more than 688 mm2.

Abstract: The invention relates to optical information storage. According to the invention, what is provided is a high-resolution optical information storage structure, comprising a substrate (10) provided with physical marks, the geometric configuration of which defines the information recorded, a superposition of three layers over the top of the marks on the substrate, and a transparent protective layer over the top of this superposition, the superposition comprising an indium antimonide or gallium antimonide layer (14) inserted between two ZnS/SiO2 dielectric layers (12, 16). The information may be prerecorded in the substrate with a resolution (in terms of size and space) better than the theoretical read resolution permitted by the wavelength of the read laser. The non-linearity in behaviour of the three-layer superposition allows the information to be read if the laser power is well chosen.

Abstract: An optical disc includes an active disc on which information is recorded and a dummy disc for protecting the active disc. The active disc and the dummy disc are bonded to form a single body, and the dummy disc is made of methylmethacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (MABS) resin.

Abstract: An Ag alloy reflective layer for optical information recording medium having excellent environmental resistance, an optical information recording medium having such Ag alloy reflective layer, and the like are provided. This Ag alloy reflective layer for an optical information includes 0.1 to 5 atomic % in total of at least one element selected from W, Ti, V, Mn, Zr, Cr, and Ni; 0.005 to 1 atomic % of Bi; and the residue of Ag and inevitable impurities. As a consequence, this Ag alloy reflective layer has improved environmental resistance including the light resistance for the light beam of particular wavelength and resistance to moist heat under particular set of conditions.

Abstract: There is provided a dielectric material containing no sulfur (S), and there is provided an information recording medium that affords high signal quality and excellent recording sensitivity and repeated rewrite characteristics, even though no interface layer is provided between a reflective layer and a dielectric layer. To this end, the present invention is an information recording medium that is equipped with at least a recording layer and undergoes phase change when the recording layer is irradiated with a laser beam or when current is applied, comprising an oxide-fluoride dielectric layer that includes indium (In), an element M1 (where M1 is at least one element selected from among Zr, Hf, Y, Ti, Nb, Ta, Cr, Ga, and Si), oxygen (O), an element M2 (where M2 is at least one element selected from among La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Mg, Ca, and Sr), and fluorine (F).

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for manufacturing a high-density optical disk having excellent optical properties by suppressing the production of a cloud caused by a release failure and preventing the deterioration of hue and light transmittance. The present invention is a process for manufacturing a high-density optical disk, comprising the steps of: (1) preparing a resin composition comprising an aromatic polycarbonate resin and a predetermined amount of monoglyceride behenate; (2) injecting molding the resin composition to obtain a substrate; and (3) forming an information recording/reproduction layer on the substrate, wherein the aromatic polycarbonate resin has a sodium metal content of 0.0005 to 0.05 ppm and a viscosity average molecular weight of 10,000 to 20,000, and the monoglyceride behenate has a sodium metal content of 1 ppm or less.

Abstract: A disc having a relief pattern and a transprint method thereof are provided. The transprint method for transprinting the relief pattern on a substrate of the disc includes the following steps. First, a transprint template is provided. A first surface of the transprint template has a complementary pattern corresponding to the relief pattern. Next, a pattern layer is formed on the substrate. Then, the transprint template is placed on and covers the pattern layer until the first surface of the transprint template closely contacts a second surface of the pattern layer, so that the relief pattern is formed on the second surface. Afterward, the pattern layer is cured by irradiation. Later, the transprint template is removed for exposing the second surface with the relief pattern.

Abstract: An information recording medium ensuring high recording and erase function and excellent archival characteristic at a high linear velocity and over a wide range of linear velocities is provided. Such a medium is obtained by constructing a recording layer which has a composition that can generate phase change as a whole, of a first through an M-th constituent layers (wherein M is an integer of 2 or greater) which are stacked in a thickness direction, such that elemental compositions of contiguous an m-th constituent layer and a (m+1)th constituent layer are different from each other (wherein m is an integer and satisfies 1?m?M) assuming that the constituent layer located at an m-th position from a laser light incident side is the m-th constituent layer. In this information recording medium, at least one m-th constituent layer constituting the recording layer preferably includes at least one element selected from Te, Bi, Sb, Ge, In, Ga, Al, Sn, Pb, Se and Si.

Abstract: A recordable optical recording media is provided with an inorganic recording layer prepared by magnetic sputtering. The recording layer is a combination film including a primary component selected from cupper (Cu), silicon (Si), chromium (Cr) or the combination thereof. The purpose of recording data can be achieved by way of altering micro-structure of the recording layer after irradiating the recordable optical recording media by a laser beam.

Abstract: In an information recording medium comprising at least a substrate, a recording layer, and a resin layer, the substrate is formed with at least a pit corresponding to a read only area 31 and a groove corresponding to a recording/reproducing area 32 without overlapping with each other. A reflectivity of the recording layer is specified to be more than 10%. The recording layer and the resin layer are continuously adhered over both the read only and recording/reproducing areas 31 and 32. The information recording medium is characterized in that both push-pull signal outputs T1 and T2, which are reproduced from the read only area 31 and the recording/reproducing area 32 respectively, are more than 0.1 and satisfy an inequality 1.5?T1/T2?0.5.

Abstract: In an information recording medium comprising at least a substrate, a recording layer, and a resin layer, the substrate is formed with at least a pit corresponding to a read only area 31 and a groove corresponding to a recording/reproducing area 32 without overlapping with each other. A reflectivity of the recording layer is specified to be more than 10%. The recording layer and the resin layer are continuously adhered over both the read only and recording/reproducing areas 31 and 32. The information recording medium is characterized in that both push-pull signal outputs T1 and T2, which are reproduced from the read only area 31 and the recording/reproducing area 32 respectively, are more than 0.1 and satisfy an inequality 1.5?T1/T2?0.5.

Abstract: The recordable optical storage medium comprises a substrate layer, a data layer and a first and a second protection layer for the data layer, wherein the data layer comprises a semiconductor layer and a dopant layer with a doping material usable for doping the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: In an information recording medium comprising at least a substrate, a recording layer, and a resin layer, the substrate is formed with at least a pit corresponding to a read only area 31 and a groove corresponding to a recording/reproducing area 32 without overlapping with each other. A reflectivity of the recording layer is specified to be more than 10%. The recording layer and the resin layer are continuously adhered over both the read only and recording/reproducing areas 31 and 32. The information recording medium is characterized in that both push-pull signal outputs T1 and T2, which are reproduced from the read only area 31 and the recording/reproducing area 32 respectively, are more than 0.1 and satisfy an inequality 1.5?T1/T2?0.5.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of polycarbonate by the melt transesterification process, polycarbonate having a low electrostatic charge obtainable by this process, and moldings or extrudates, in particular optical data storage media or light-diffusing plates, made from this polycarbonate.

Abstract: The optical recording medium according to the present invention comprises a transparent substrate, a recording layer, an optical reflective layer, and a protective layer, wherein the last three layers mentioned are formed on the substrate in this sequence, and enables recoding at a recording linear velocity of 27.9 m/s or more. The optical reflective layer is characterized in that the layer comprises any one of Ag and an alloy mainly made from Ag and a x-ray diffraction spectrum of the optical reflective layer satisfies the relational expression of 0.2<I (200)/I (111)<0.4, in which I (111) is an intensity of the x-ray diffraction peak from (111) plane and I (200) is an intensity of the x-ray diffraction peak from (200) plane determined by x-ray diffraction based on ??2? method when the incidence angle relative to the surface of the optically transparent substrate being ?.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a sputtering target for making an optical medium whose reflective layer is mainly composed of Ag and capable of attaining an optical medium which is excellent in surface smoothness and can sufficiently suppress noise and jitter, a method of making the same, an optical medium, and a method of making the same. The present invention provides a sputtering target for making an optical medium comprising 0.1 to 2 at % of one or two elements selected from the group consisting of Ta and Nb, 0.1 to 1 at % of Al, and the balance constituted by Ag and unavoidable impurities; and an optical medium comprising a reflective layer having this composition on a substrate.

Abstract: To provide a squarylium compound forming a metal complex, expressed by the general formula (I): where R1 and R2 are the same or different and each of R1 and R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, or heterocyclic group; Q represents a metal atom having coordinating ability; q represents 2 or 3; R3 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, or aryl group; R4 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aralkyl, or aryl group,’ R5 represents a hydrogen atom, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aralkyl, or aryl group; R6 represents a halogen atom, nitro group, cyano group, or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group; p represents any integer ranging from 0 to 4; and RGs are the same or different and any adjacently located two R6s optionally form a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring together with two adjacent carbon atoms when p is 2, 3 or 4.

Abstract: A new optical recording medium capable of reducing the burden in erasing data in the optical recording medium is provided. The optical recording medium includes an organic pigment recording layer 12 and a light reflecting layer 14, which are at least laminated on a substrate 11, wherein a photocatalyst layer 13 is formed in contact with the organic pigment recording layer 12.

Abstract: Optical information media having high pressure-at-break values, and methods for determining pressure-at-break values are disclosed. The media have high structural integrities, and are designed to confer greater resistance to delamination forces as compared to conventional optical information media.

Abstract: A hologram recording medium includes a glass substrate and an information recording layer supported on the glass substrate. The information recording layer is formed of a photosensitive material having a dynamic storage elastic modulus of 1.0×105 Pa or more as measured at 80° C. and a measurement frequency of 1 Hz after interference exposure or post-curing. The photosensitive material is dissolvable or dispersible in an organic solvent, and the information recording layer has sufficient storage stability that allows recorded signals to be stably held for at least 100 hours or longer at 80° C.

Abstract: The main object of the present invention is to provide an optical recording medium with no need to use a control subject substance of the PRTR law, capable of using for an optical recording device with a blue laser, and giving consideration to the environmental aspect. To attain the object, the present invention provides an optical recording medium comprising: a reflective layer containing an aluminum composition as the main component including both aluminum or an aluminum alloy and a metal oxide of a metal other than aluminum; and a dielectric protective layer, formed in contact with the reflective layer, containing a niobium composition as the main component including both silicon dioxide or titanium dioxide and a niobium nitrided oxide.

Abstract: A phase change optical disk includes a first dielectric film, a recording film, a second dielectric film and a reflecting film which are consecutively formed on a substrate. The second dielectric film includes therein a zinc sulfide at a rate of 10 to 40 mol % and a tantalum oxide at a rate of 20 to 50 mol %, for preventing sulfuration of Ag in the reflecting film.

Abstract: An optical disk is disclosed. The optical disk includes a substrate having lands and pits arranged and formed along a recording track so that data are recorded; a reflective film deposited on the substrate; and a protective layer formed on the reflective film, where an edge of the pits in the array direction is irradiated with light from a side of the protective layer to deform the pits, so that pit data are rewritten and recorded, and the reflective film includes an alloy formed of AlFeX having Al as a main component, where X contains any one or more of Ti, Cu, Au, Pt, and Si.

Abstract: A photo-curable transfer sheet having a photo-curable layer comprising a photo-curable composition, the photo-curable composition being deformable by application of pressure and containing a reactive polymer having a photopolymerizable functional group. The photo-curable transfer sheet preferably has a light transmittance of not less than 70% in a wavelength rang of 380 to 420 nm. An optical information recording substrate and medium prepared by the sheet. The sheet easily and precisely enables transfer of unevenness of the surface of a stamper by pressing.

Abstract: An optical disc has a first transparent substrate, a second substrate, and at least a first and a second recording layer formed between the substrates. The first substrate has a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first surface is a beam incidence surface for a laser beam, the second surface having a first concave section and a first convex section formed adjacent to each other thereon, the first concave section being farther than the first convex section from the incidence surface, first pre-pits being formed on the first concave section. The second substrate has a second concave section and a second convex section formed adjacent to each other thereon, the second concave section being farther than the second convex section from the incidence surface, second pre-pits being formed on the second concave section, a top surface of each second pre-pit being closer than a top surface of the second convex section to the beam surface.

Abstract: A multilayer optical recording medium includes: a substrate; a plurality of optical recording layers provided on the substrate; and a plurality of intermediate layers each provided between adjoining optical recording layers disposed in a thickness direction. In this multilayer optical recording medium, each of the intermediate layers has a birefringence property and a principal axis direction of birefringence of each intermediate layer is oriented at 90 degrees with respect to that of an adjoining intermediate layer.

Abstract: A write-once type optical recording medium 10 has an inorganic recording film 2. The inorganic recording film 2 has an oxide film 2a containing an oxide of germanium (Ge) and an adjacent film 2b which contains titanium (Ti) and manganese (Mn) and is adjacent to the oxide film 2a.

Abstract: A method of evaluating astigmatism of an irradiation system irradiating an electron beam is disclosed. In this method, a figure pattern consisting of plural (for example, four) concentric circles is formed on a reference sample “WP” and an image (scanned image) is formed based on an electron signal obtained by scanning the electron beam onto the reference sample “WP”. In the scanned image, the image has a blur in a region with its longitudinal direction parallel to the generating direction of the astigmatism and the size of the blur depends on magnitude of the astigmatism. Therefore, the direction and the magnitude of the astigmatism of the irradiation system of an irradiation apparatus can be detected based on the obtained scanned image.

Abstract: A cyanine compound is represented by: R1 and R2 are: a hydrogen atom; a hydroxyl, nitro or cyano group; a halogen atom; or an organic group having 1-30 carbon atoms. R3 and R4 are: a hydrogen atom; or an organic group having 1-30 carbon atoms. R1 and R2 may connect into a ring structure. R3 and R4 may form a heterocycle. N—R3 may connect with a methylene group in an adjacent polymethine chain to form a heterocycle. X represents: an oxygen, sulfur, selenium atom; —CR5R6—; —NH—; or —NYj—. R5 and R6 are an organic group having 1-30 carbon atoms. R5 and R6 may form a ring structure. Yj represents an organic group having 1-30 carbon atoms. Z0 is an organic group having 1-10 carbon atoms. n=1-2. r=2-8. Anq? represents an anion of valence of. q is 1 or 2. p represents a coefficient maintaining charge neutrality.