Optical detection device, optical detection method, and program

Abstract

A phase sensitive detection mechanism that uses electrical processing is realized, and an optical detection device, an optical detection method, and a program that are capable of detecting faint light at high speed and with high sensitivity are provided by a simple configuration. A light source section generates a first pulsed light. A filter section transmits a second pulsed light formed from a portion of a frequency spectrum exhibited by the first pulsed light, and reflects a third pulsed light formed from another portion of the frequency spectrum exhibited by the first pulsed light. A phase modulation section phase modulates the second pulsed light at plural phases. A multiplexing section produces a fourth pulsed light by multiplexing the third pulsed light with the second pulsed light phase modulated by the phase modulation section. A detector spectrally disperses and detects scattered light generated by radiating the fourth pulsed light onto a target object. An extraction section uses specific calculation processing to synchronize with the phase modulation in the phase modulation section, so as to extract a frequency spectrum of scattered light scattered based on the second pulsed light phase modulated by the phase modulation section from the frequency spectrum of the scattered light detected by the detector.

Claims

1. An optical detection device comprising: a light source section that generates a first pulsed light; a filter section that transmits a second pulsed light formed from a portion of a frequency spectrum exhibited by the first pulsed light, and that reflects a third pulsed light formed from another portion of the frequency spectrum exhibited by the first pulsed light; a phase modulation section that phase modulates the second pulsed light at a plurality of phases; a multiplexing section that produces a fourth pulsed light by multiplexing the third pulsed light with the second pulsed light phase modulated by the phase modulation section; a detector that spectrally disperses and detects scattered light generated by radiating the fourth pulsed light onto a target object; and an extraction section that uses calculation processing of (1) or (2) to synchronize with the phase modulation in the phase modulation section, so as to extract a frequency spectrum of scattered light scattered based on the second pulsed light phase modulated by the phase modulation section from the frequency spectrum of the scattered light detected by the detector, wherein (1) and (2) are as follows: (1) the plurality of phases are φ, φ+2π/3, and φ+4π/3 (where φ is a fixed phase), and the extraction section extracts a frequency spectrum in which the value of I is 0 or a value within an acceptable range of 0, where I is expressed by the equation below for respective intensities I(φ), I(φ+2π/3), and I(φ+4π/3) at the plurality of phases of the scattered light detected by the detector: $I=\sqrt{{\left\{\frac{I\left(\varnothing +\frac{2\pi }{3}\right)-I\left(\varnothing +\frac{4\pi }{3}\right)}{\sqrt{3}}\right\}}^2+{\left\{\frac{I\left(\varnothing +\frac{2\pi }{3}\right)+I\left(\varnothing +\frac{4\pi }{3}\right)-2I\left(\varnothing \right)}{3}\right\}}^2}$ (2) the plurality of phases are φ, φ+π/2, φ+π, and φ+3π/2 (where φ is a fixed phase), and the extraction section extracts a frequency spectrum in which the value of I is 0 or a value within an acceptable range of 0, where I is expressed by the equation below for respective intensities I(φ), I(φ+π/2), I(φ+π), and I(φ+3π/2) at the plurality of phases of the scattered light detected by the detector: $I=\sqrt{{\left\{I\left(\varnothing \right)-I\left(\varnothing +\pi \right)\right\}}^2+{\left\{I\left(\varnothing +\frac{\pi }{2}\right)-I\left(\varnothing +\frac{3\pi }{2}\right)\right\}}^2}.$

2. The optical detection device of claim 1, wherein: the light source section is a light source that employs an ultrashort pulse laser; and the bandwidth of the frequency spectrum of the second pulsed light is narrower than the bandwidth of the frequency spectrum of the third pulsed light.

3. The optical detection device of claim 1, wherein the phase modulation section is a modulator based on electro-optical effects, or a light path length adjustment section that changes a light path length for incident light and emits the incident light.

4. The optical detection device of claim 1, wherein the filter section and the multiplexing section are configured by a single bandpass filter that transmits the second pulsed light and the second pulsed light phase modulated by the phase modulation section, and that reflects the third pulsed light.

5. The optical detection device of claim 1, wherein the frequency spectrum extracted by the extraction section is a frequency spectrum of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattered light.

6. An optical detection method comprising: in a filter section, transmitting a second pulsed light formed from a portion of a frequency spectrum exhibited by a first pulsed light emitted by a light source section, and reflecting a third pulsed light formed from another portion of the frequency spectrum exhibited by the first pulsed light; phase modulating the second pulsed light at a plurality of phases using a phase modulation section; producing a fourth pulsed light by using a multiplexing section to multiplex the third pulsed light and the second pulsed light phase modulated by the phase modulation section; spectrally dispersing scattered light generated by radiating the fourth pulsed light onto a target object and detecting the spectrally dispersed scattered light with a detector; and synchronizing with the phase modulation in the phase modulation section by using calculation processing of (1) or (2), so as to extract a frequency spectrum of scattered light scattered based on the second pulsed light phase modulated by the phase modulation section from the frequency spectrum of the scattered light detected by the detector, wherein (1) and (2) are as follows: (1) the plurality of phases are φ, φ+2π/3, and φ+4π/3 (where φ is a fixed phase), and the extraction section extracts a frequency spectrum in which the value of I is 0 or a value within an acceptable range of 0, where I is expressed by the equation below for respective intensities I(φ), I(φ+2π/3), and I(φ+4π/3) at the plurality of phases of the scattered light detected by the detector: $I=\sqrt{{\left\{\frac{I\left(\varnothing +\frac{2\pi }{3}\right)-I\left(\varnothing +\frac{4\pi }{3}\right)}{\sqrt{3}}\right\}}^2+{\left\{\frac{I\left(\varnothing +\frac{2\pi }{3}\right)+I\left(\varnothing +\frac{4\pi }{3}\right)-2I\left(\varnothing \right)}{3}\right\}}^2}$ (2) the plurality of phases are φ, φ+π/2, φ+π, and φ+3π/2 (where φ is a fixed phase), and the extraction section extracts a frequency spectrum in which the value of I is 0 or a value within an acceptable range of 0, where I is expressed by the equation below for respective intensities I(φ), I(φ+π/2), I(φ+π), and I(φ+3π/2) at the plurality of phases of the scattered light detected by the detector: $I=\sqrt{{\left\{I\left(\varnothing \right)-I\left(\varnothing +\pi \right)\right\}}^2+{\left\{I\left(\varnothing +\frac{\pi }{2}\right)-I\left(\varnothing +\frac{3\pi }{2}\right)\right\}}^2}.$

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that controls an optical detection device comprising a light source section that generates a first pulsed light, a filter section that transmits a second pulsed light formed from a portion of a frequency spectrum exhibited by the first pulsed light, and that reflects a third pulsed light formed from another portion of the frequency spectrum exhibited by the first pulsed light, a phase modulation section that phase modulates the second pulsed light at a plurality of phases, a multiplexing section that produces a fourth pulsed light by multiplexing the third pulsed light with the second pulsed light phase modulated by the phase modulation section, and a detector that spectrally disperses and detects scattered light generated by radiating the fourth pulsed light onto a target object, the program causing a computer to function as: an extraction section that uses calculation processing of (1) or (2) to synchronize with the phase modulation in the phase modulation section, so as to extract a frequency spectrum of scattered light scattered based on the second pulsed light phase modulated by the phase modulation section from the frequency spectrum of the scattered light detected by the detector, wherein (1) and (2) are as follows: (1) the plurality of phases are φ, φ+2π/3, and φ+4π/3 (where φ is a fixed phase), and the extraction section extracts a frequency spectrum in which the value of I is 0 or a value within an acceptable range of 0, where I is expressed by the equation below for respective intensities I(φ), I(φ+2π/3), and I(φ+4π/3) at the plurality of phases of the scattered light detected by the detector: $I=\sqrt{{\left\{\frac{I\left(\varnothing +\frac{2\pi }{3}\right)-I\left(\varnothing +\frac{4\pi }{3}\right)}{\sqrt{3}}\right\}}^2+{\left\{\frac{I\left(\varnothing +\frac{2\pi }{3}\right)+I\left(\varnothing +\frac{4\pi }{3}\right)-2I\left(\varnothing \right)}{3}\right\}}^2}$ (2) the plurality of phases are φ, φ+π/2, φ+π, and φ+3π/2 (where φ is a fixed phase), and the extraction section extracts a frequency spectrum in which the value of I is 0 or a value within an acceptable range of 0, where I is expressed by the equation below for respective intensities I(φ), I(φ+π/2), I(φ+π), and I(φ+3π/2) at the plurality of phases of the scattered light detected by the detector: $I=\sqrt{{\left\{I\left(\varnothing \right)-I\left(\varnothing +\pi \right)\right\}}^2+{\left\{I\left(\varnothing +\frac{\pi }{2}\right)-I\left(\varnothing +\frac{3\pi }{2}\right)\right\}}^2}.$

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a procedure for an optical detection method according to the exemplary embodiments.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an optical detection device according to a first exemplary embodiment.

(3) FIG. 3(a) is a schematic diagram for explaining modulation phases of phase modulation according to the first exemplary embodiment, and (b) is a graph illustrating a drive voltage applied to an optical modulator

(4) FIG. 4 shows some of the diagrams illustrating waveforms and spectra of respective light signals of an optical detection device according to the first exemplary embodiment.

(5) FIG. 5 shows some of the diagrams illustrating waveforms and spectra of respective light signals of an optical detection device according to the first exemplary embodiment.

(6) FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing of an optical detection processing program according to the exemplary embodiments.

(7) FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating an example in an optical detection device according to the first exemplary embodiment.

(8) FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an optical detection device according to a second exemplary embodiment.

(9) FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining modulation phases of phase modulation according to a third exemplary embodiment.

(10) FIG. 10 shows diagrams for explaining Raman scattering.

(11) FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a Raman spectroscopy device according to related technology.

(12) FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a non-resonant background.

(13) FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining phase modulation according to related technology.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(14) Detailed explanation follows regarding exemplary embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the drawings. When phase modulation is performed on pulsed light from a light source in the present invention, the plural modulation phases may be mutually orthogonal or not orthogonal. However, from the viewpoint of facilitating understanding, explanation is first given in the present exemplary embodiments regarding an example of a case in which phase modulation is performed at four orthogonal phases.

First Exemplary Embodiment

(15) In the present invention, a portion of a wideband spectrum of ultrashort pulse light is phase modulated and radiated onto a sample, frequency components that are synchronous with the phase modulated spectrum are extracted from a signal light emitted in the sample, and the extracted frequency components are observed. Namely, the plural orthogonal phases that yield the greatest spectral change are specified for a narrowband pulsed light that is a portion of the wideband spectrum, phase modulation is performed thereon, and the spectra of the respective modulation phases are integrated to improve the contrast of the signal. Note that “orthogonal” in the present exemplary embodiment is used with the ordinary meaning, namely, that integrating the product of the two signals gives a result of 0.

(16) More specific explanation regarding the general outline of the present invention follows, with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a procedure for an optical detection method according to the present invention, with this same figure illustrating an example of a case in which CARS light emitted in a sample is extracted as spectral information.

(17) As illustrated in FIG. 1, first, in procedure T1, pulsed light of a light source is split into a pulsed light (first pulsed light) having a narrowband component and a pulsed light (second pulsed light) having a wideband component.

(18) In the next procedure T2, the first pulsed light is delayed with respect to the second pulsed light. The first pulsed light is delayed in order to selectively eliminate signal light that has a short relaxation time. The delay can, for example, effectively eliminate signals arising from water, which is a primary source of noise in living organisms.

(19) In the next procedure T3, phase modulation is performed on the first pulsed light that was delayed in procedure T2, at plural predetermined orthogonal phases.

(20) In the next procedure T4, the phase modulated first pulsed light and the second pulsed light are multiplexed.

(21) In the next procedure T5, the multiplexed light is radiated onto the sample.

(22) In the next procedure T6, signal light emitted in the sample is spectrally dispersed.

(23) In the next procedure T7, the spectrally dispersed signal light is caused to be incident to an optical receiver and converted into an electrical signal.

(24) In the next procedure T8, specific signal processing is executed on the electrical signal in order to extract a spectrum of CARS light.

(25) The spectrum of CARS light reflected by vibrations of molecules included in the sample can be obtained by the procedure above.

(26) FIG. 2 illustrates an optical detection device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment. The optical detection device 10 is configured including a light source 12, an optical modulator 14, a spectroscope 16, an optical receiver 18, a controller 20, a signal generator 22, a bandpass filter 24, a shortpass filter 28, objective lenses 30, 32, retroreflectors 34A, 34B, and reflectors 36A, 36B, 36C.

(27) In the optical detection device 10, the light source 12 is a light source that respectively emits light corresponding to the excitation light, the Stokes light, and the probe light in the Raman scattering process. In the optical detection device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, an ultrashort pulse laser that emits wideband pulsed light is employed as the light source 12.

(28) The bandpass filter 24 is a narrowband bandpass filter that transmits a portion of pulsed light PA emitted from the light source 12 as narrowband first pulsed light PB, and reflects other portions as wideband second pulsed light PD. Moreover, the bandpass filter 24 according to the present exemplary embodiment also functions so as to multiplex phase modulated first pulsed light PC with second pulsed light PD that has been sent back by the retroreflector 34B, and obtains a pulsed light PE to be radiated onto a sample 26.

(29) Explanation is given in the present exemplary embodiment regarding an example of a mode in which the bandpass filter 24 functions so as to split and multiplex the first pulsed light PC and the second pulsed light PD; however, there is no limitation thereto, and configuration may be made such that separate elements are employed therefor. In such cases, an ordinary half mirror may be employed as the element that multiplexes.

(30) The retroreflector 34A is a location where incident first pulsed light PB that has been split by the bandpass filter 24, is sent back in the direction of incidence. Reflectors disposed at right angles to each other are employed in the present exemplary embodiment; however, there is no limitation thereto, and, for example, a right angle prism may be employed.

(31) The optical modulator 14 is a modulator that performs specific phase modulations on the first pulsed light PB that has been sent back by the retroreflector 34A, and thereby produces the modulated first pulsed light PC. In the present exemplary embodiment, an explanation is given regarding an example of a mode that employs an LN (lithium niobate; LiNbO.sub.3) modulator that modulates the phase of light using an electro-optical effect, as an example of the optical modulator 14; however, there is no limitation thereto. For example, a mode may be adopted that employs a configuration such as a reflector equipped with a drive mechanism or the like to mechanically delay phases of light.

(32) The signal generator 22 is a signal generator that generates an electrical signal for performing phase modulation by changing the driving voltage of the optical modulator 14. The output of the signal generator 22 may be connected to the optical modulator 14 via a drive circuit, omitted from illustration, in some cases.

(33) The objective lens 30 is a lens that focuses the pulsed light PE multiplexed by the bandpass filter 24, and radiates the focused light onto the sample 26. The objective lens 32 is a lens that focuses the pulsed light PF (including excitation light and the like alongside the CARS light), this being the signal light generated in the sample, and guides the focused light to the spectroscope 16.

(34) The position at which the pulsed light PE is radiated onto the sample 26 may be changed (scanned) by moving at least one out of the objective lens 30 or the sample 26. A drive mechanism capable of moving at least one out of the objective lens 30 or the sample 26 within the plane perpendicular to the page, such as a drive mechanism employing piezo elements, may be provided in such cases.

(35) The shortpass filter 28 is a long wavelength cut-off filter that facilitates extraction of the CARS light by eliminating, from the pulsed light PF, excitation light components (light simply transmitted through the sample 26), which have light intensities far greater than that of the CARS light, thereby producing a pulsed light PG. Note that the eliminated excitation light may be just part of the excitation light. Moreover, the shortpass filter 28 is appropriately provided according to the magnitude of the excitation light, and is not always necessary.

(36) The spectroscope 16 is the location where the pulsed light PG is spectrally dispersed, and where the spectrally dispersed light is guided to the optical receiver 18, and may be configured using a general spectrometer without any particular limitations.

(37) The optical receiver 18 is the location where light including the spectrally dispersed CARS light is received, and, as an example, employs a CCD in the present exemplary embodiment. The optical receiver 18 is not limited to a CCD, and may, for example, employ another optical reception element such as a photomultiplier tube or a photodiode.

(38) The controller 20 is where signal processing to extract CARS light frequency components from the pulsed light PG, which includes the CARS light generated by the sample 26, is performed, and is also where waveform control and the like is performed on a drive voltage generated by the signal generator 22 for phase modulation by the optical modulator 14. The controller 20 may be configured using a general personal computer or the like.

(39) The reflectors 36A, 36B, 36C are mirrors for switching the light path.

(40) Next, more specific explanation follows regarding the phase modulation performed by the optical modulator 14 according to the present exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 3.

(41) In the optical detection device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the four phases that yield the greatest spectral changes in the narrowband pulsed light PB are specified for the narrowband pulsed light PB that is a portion of the wideband spectrum, and phase modulation is performed thereon. Then, the contrast of the signal is increased by integrating the light intensity I for each of the modulation phases. In the present exemplary embodiment, four orthogonal phases, namely, the four phases 0, π/2, π, and 3π/2 with respect to a reference phase of 0, are employed as the four phases.

(42) Namely, as illustrated in FIG. 3(a), in the present exemplary embodiment, phase modulation is performed on one cycle of a waveform WO of light of the pulsed light PB at a reference phase position M.sub.0 of phase 0, a phase position M.sub.1 of phase π/2, a phase position M.sub.2 of phase π, and a phase position M.sub.3 of phase 3π/2.

(43) FIG. 3(b) illustrates an example of a drive voltage waveform applied to the optical modulator 14 when performing the phase modulation described above, and as illustrated in this same figure, the present exemplary embodiment employs a stepped drive voltage waveform. Since the optical modulator 14 according to the present exemplary embodiment employs an LN modulator, a voltage signal is employed as the drive signal of the optical modulator.

(44) In FIG. 3(b), V.sub.0, V.sub.1, V.sub.2, and V.sub.3 represent drive voltages that are respectively applied at the phase positions M.sub.0, M.sub.1, M.sub.2, and M.sub.3 of FIG. 3(a), and phase changes at 0, π/2, π, and 3π/2 are thus respectively applied to the pulsed light PB. V.sub.π illustrated in FIG. 3(b) indicates the half-wave voltage of the LN modulator, namely, the drive voltage that applies a phase change of π to the light signal. Moreover, in the optical detection device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, as an example, the duration T of each drive voltage is 1 ms (millisecond).

(45) Note that in the present exemplary embodiment, it is sufficient for the phase modulation described above to preserve the relative relationship between the four phases (namely, phase differences of π/2), and the absolute value of the phases is not an issue.

(46) In the optical detection device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the drive voltage of the optical modulator 14 described above is supplied from the signal generator 22 (or from the signal generator 22 via a drive circuit, omitted from illustration), and the voltage waveform generated by the signal generator 22 is controlled by the controller 20. Conditions related to phase modulation performed in the optical modulator 14, for example, the number of phase modulations, the modulation phase of each phase position, and the drive voltage applied for each phase modulation, may be stored in a storage means such as read only memory (ROM) or non-volatile memory (NVM), omitted from illustration, provided in the controller 20.

(47) Moreover, although explanation has been given in the present exemplary embodiment regarding an example in which a stepped waveform serves as the waveform of the drive voltage applied to the optical modulator 14, there is no limitation thereto, and, for example, a pulse waveform having peak values that are the respective driving voltages (V.sub.0, V.sub.1, V.sub.2, V.sub.3) may be employed.

(48) Next, explanation follows regarding pulsed waveforms and spectra of the pulsed light PA to the pulsed light PG described above, with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. FIG. 4(a) to FIG. 4(d) respectively illustrate pulsed waveforms (the horizontal axis is time t; the vertical axis is light intensity I) and spectra (the horizontal axis is wavelength λ; the vertical axis is light intensity I) of the pulsed light PA to the pulsed light PD. Moreover, FIG. 5(e) to FIG. 5(g) respectively illustrate pulsed waveforms and spectra of the pulsed light PE to the pulsed light PG.

(49) As illustrated in FIG. 4(a), the pulsed light PA (the light emitted from the light source 12) according to the present exemplary embodiment has a wideband spectrum S1, and is a light pulse P1 that is an ultrashort pulsed laser having a pulse width on the order of femtoseconds. More specifically, a Ti:sapphire laser having a central wavelength of approximately 800 nm, a pulse width on the order of femtoseconds (for example, 10 fs), and a bandwidth of 100 nm (1600 cm.sup.−1) is employed as an example of the light source 12.

(50) As illustrated in FIG. 4(b), the pulsed light PA is transmitted by the bandpass filter 24 as the pulsed light PB, and after being split, becomes a light pulse P2 having a narrowband spectrum S2. In the optical detection device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the bandwidth of the pulsed light PB is, as an example, approximately 4 nm (60 cm.sup.−1).

(51) FIG. 4(c) illustrates a state in which the pulsed light PB has been modulated at plural phases by the optical modulator 14, and output as the pulsed light PC. As illustrated in FIG. 4(c), when the pulsed light P3 has been phase modulated at plural phases, it becomes possible to measure the light intensity I at a number of offset phases of the number of phase modulations (four in the present exemplary embodiment) as described below. Note that the spectrum S3 of the light pulse P3 is essentially the same as the spectrum S2 described above, except for minute fluctuations in the spectrum caused by the phase modulation in the optical modulator 14.

(52) FIG. 4(d) illustrates pulsed light PD that has been reflected by the bandpass filter 24 and split, and the pulsed light PD is configured by a light pulse P4 having a wideband spectrum S4. The spectrum S4 is a spectrum given by subtracting a portion corresponding to the spectrum S3 from the spectrum S1.

(53) When the pulsed light PC and the pulsed light PD described above have been multiplexed by the bandpass filter 24, the light pulse P5 and the light pulse P6, having a spectrum S5, are obtained as illustrated in FIG. 5(e). These light pulses configure the pulsed light PE.

(54) In the optical detection device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the pulsed light PC described above acts as both the excitation light and the probe light, and the pulsed light PD acts as the stokes light.

(55) When the pulsed light PE has been radiated onto the sample 26, signal light including spectra S6 and S7, as illustrated in FIG. 5(f), is emitted as the pulsed light PF. The spectrum S7 is a spectrum corresponding to CARS light, and the spectrum S6 is a spectrum primarily corresponding to the excitation light. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 5(f), a spectrum marker Sm is included in the spectrum S7. Although a single spectrum S7 is illustrated in FIG. 5(f), in practice, plural CARS lights are emitted simultaneously since excitation is performed using wideband light in the optical detection device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment.

(56) In the present exemplary embodiment, “spectrum marker” refers to a fluctuating portion of the spectrum of the signal light generated as a result of interference between the CARS light emitted from the sample 26 and the non-resonant spectrum, and is caused by the phase modulation by the optical modulator 14. The form of the fluctuation of the fluctuating portion of the spectrum is what is known as a sinusoidal waveform, and when the phase of the pulsed light PB has been shifted as illustrated in FIG. 4(c), the phase of the sinusoidal waveform is shifted in the direction of the wavelength λ axis. In the present exemplary embodiment, the fluctuating portion, namely, the spectrum marker, is employed as an indicator of the Raman shift. Namely, a wavelength difference Δλ of from the central wavelength of the spectrum S3 included in the spectrum S6 indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 5(f) to the wavelength of the spectrum marker Sm portion, corresponds to the Raman shift.

(57) Thus, in the optical detection device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the frequency resolution can be increased by marking a narrowband component that includes the CARS light. Although a single spectrum marker Sm is illustrated in FIG. 5(f), in practice, plural spectrum markers Sm will be generated corresponding to plural CARS lights.

(58) When the pulsed light PF has passed through the shortpass filter 28, a CARS light spectrum S8, as illustrated in FIG. 5(g), is primarily extracted. The CARS light spectrum S8 includes the spectrum marker Sm, from which a specific portion of the spectrum S6 that is primarily the spectrum of the excitation light has been subtracted. In practice, a spectrum of a non-resonant background, described above, is also generated surrounding the spectrum S8, and some of this spectrum also passes through the shortpass filter 28 at the same time.

(59) Next, explanation follows regarding optical detection processing executed by the optical detection device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing of an optical detection processing program according to the present exemplary embodiment.

(60) In the optical detection device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the processing illustrated in FIG. 6 instructs, via the controller 20 or the like, the start of optical detection, such that a CPU, omitted from illustration, provided inside the controller 20 reads the optical detection processing program, which is stored in a storage means such as ROM, and executes the optical detection processing program.

(61) Moreover, although explanation has been given in the present exemplary embodiment regarding an example of a mode in which the optical detection processing program is pre-stored in a storage means such as ROM, there is no limitation thereto. For example, a mode in which the optical detection processing program is provided in a state stored on a portable storage medium readable by a computer, a mode may be applied in which the optical detection processing program is distributed by wire or wirelessly through a communication means, or the like.

(62) Moreover, although the optical detection processing is implemented by executing the program with a software configuration that employs a computer in the present exemplary embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, the optical detection processing may be implemented by a hardware configuration employing an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or by a combination of a hardware configuration and a software configuration.

(63) As illustrated in FIG. 6, first, at step S100, phase modulation conditions (such as the number of modulation phases, the modulation phase of each modulation position, and the drive voltage applied for each phase modulation) are read into the optical modulator 14 from a storage means such as ROM or NVM, omitted from illustration, provided in the controller 20.

(64) At the next step S102, N modulation phases (N=4 in the present exemplary embodiment) are set based on the phase modulation conditions read at step S100, and at the next step S104, a drive voltage, a driving waveform, or the like, is set in the signal generator 22 for driving the optical modulator 14.

(65) At the next step S106, a counter for the N modulation phases, i, is set to 1. At the next step S108, phase modulation is performed at phase θ(i) in the optical modulator 14, and at the next step S110, after modulating at phase θ(i), the light intensity I(i) is acquired.

(66) At the next step S112, determination is made as to whether or not the counter i is greater than N, and the counter i is incremented by 1 at step S114 in cases in which negative determination was made, processing returns to step S108, and phase modulation continues at phase θ(i+1).

(67) However, processing transitions to step S116 in cases in which positive determination was made at step S112, and signal processing is performed to extract a CARS light spectrum based on the light intensity I(i) acquired by modulation at each phase θ(i). The signal processing to extract the CARS light spectrum is performed in synchronization with the phase modulation in the optical modulator 14.

(68) The signal processing is performed based on processing represented by Equation (1) below.

(69) $\begin{array}{cc}I=\sqrt{{\left\{I\left(0\right)-I\left(\pi \right)\right\}}^2+{\left\{I\left(\frac{\pi }{2}\right)-I\left(\frac{3\pi }{2}\right)\right\}}^2}& \mathrm{Equation}\left(1\right)\end{array}$

(70) More specifically, a spectrum in which the value of I in Equation (1) above is 0, or a value within an acceptable range of 0, is identified from the signal light spectrum, a portion of the signal light spectrum corresponding to the spectrum marker Sm is extracted, and a spectrum is calculated. The spectrum calculated at step S118 is then output. The optical detection processing program subsequently ends.

(71) According to the present signal processing, the non-resonant background components can be subtracted out irrespective of the intensity or the spectrum waveform of the non-resonant background. Accordingly, the influence of the non-resonant background can be eliminated from the emitted CARS light, enabling a high sensitivity optical detection device to be implemented.

(72) The acceptable range mentioned above may be set in advance according to a simulation or an experiment employing actual equipment or the like, for example, and may be stored in ROM, NVM, or the like, omitted from illustration, of the controller 20.

(73) Although explanation has been given in the exemplary embodiment described above regarding an example of a case in which a cycle of measurement for the four phases was executed once, there is no limitation thereto, and the cycle may be executed plural times. The S/N ratio increases with each executed cycle.

(74) Next, explanation follows regarding an example of the optical detection device 10, according to the present exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 illustrates, for the same sample, a comparison between optical detection results for CARS light by the optical detection device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, and optical detection results for CARS light by an optical detection device according to related technology that uses random phase modulations as described above.

(75) In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the following conditions were employed for both the optical detection device according to the present exemplary embodiment and the optical detection device according to related technology. light source 12 (pulsed light PA): wavelength 800 nm, pulse width 10 fs, bandwidth 125 nm (2000 cm.sup.−1) narrowband pulsed light (pulsed light PB): wavelength 777 nm, pulse width 0.6 ps, bandwidth 4 nm sample: dropped preparation of neat isoflurane

(76) In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis indicates wavenumbers, and the amount of shift in wavenumbers with respect to the wavenumber of the excitation light is illustrated. Moreover, the vertical axis represents light intensity (in a.u.). In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the number of integrated measurements by the optical detection device according to related technology (namely, the number of random modulation phases) is 500.

(77) In FIG. 7, the spectrum indicated by SCI is a CARS light spectrum of characteristic molecular vibrations of isoflurane. It is apparent that although the spectrum of the CARS light is mostly unobservable in the optical detection device according to related technology, the optical detection device according to the present exemplary embodiment enables the CARS light spectrum to be observed clearly. Note that the spectrum indicated by SP in FIG. 7 is the excitation light spectrum.

(78) As described in detail above, the optical detection device, the optical detection method, and the program according to the present exemplary embodiment enable an optical detection device, an optical detection method, and a program that are capable of detecting faint light at high speed and with high sensitivity to be provided by a simple configuration. The optical detection device, the optical detection method, and the program according to the present exemplary embodiment can exhibit an advantageous effect of being uninfluenced, for example, by temperature drift in the characteristic operating point of the LN modulator as long as the relative phase relationship in the phase modulation can be determined.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

(79) Next, explanation follows regarding an optical detection device 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment, with reference to FIG. 8. The optical detection device 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment is obtained by changing the method of phase modulating the first pulsed light PB in the optical detection device 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment. The same reference numerals are therefore appended to configuration similar to that of FIG. 2, and explanation thereof is omitted.

(80) Although an LN modulator was employed as the optical modulator 14 in the optical detection device 10, the optical detection device 100 employs a drive mechanism-equipped retroreflector 38. As illustrated in FIG. 8, in the optical detection device 100, the controller 20 performs phase modulation by disposing the drive mechanism-equipped retroreflector 38 at plural positions corresponding to specific modulation phases (four positions in the present exemplary embodiment), via a drive mechanism, omitted from illustration.

(81) In FIG. 8, positions corresponding to specific phase modulations are indicated by numerals 1 to 4 appended to the drive mechanism-equipped retroreflector 38, and these positions corresponds to respective phase positions M.sub.0 to M.sub.3, of FIG. 3. Namely, the positions of the drive mechanism-equipped retroreflector 38 appended with the numerals 1 to 4 respectively correspond to modulation phases 0, π/2, π, and 3π/2. Thus, similarly to in the optical detection device 10 of FIG. 2, in the optical detection device 100, it is also sufficient to preserve relative position relationships between the four phases, and the absolute value of the phases is not an issue. At each section in the optical detection device 100, the waveforms and spectra of the pulsed light PA to the pulsed light PG is similar to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

(82) The optical detection processing program according to the present exemplary embodiment is also essentially similar to the optical detection processing program according to the first exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6; however it differs somewhat in step S104. Namely, in the optical detection processing program according to the present exemplary embodiment, instead of setting the signal generator 22 at step S104, the drive mechanism of the drive mechanism-equipped retroreflector 38 is set, namely, the position of the drive mechanism-equipped retroreflector 38 etc. corresponding to each of the modulation phases is set. Then, based on the set position of the drive mechanism-equipped retroreflector 38, phase modulation is performed at phase θ(i) at step S108 similarly to in the first exemplary embodiment, and the light intensity I(i) is acquired at step S110.

(83) As described above, the optical detection device, the optical detection method, and the program according to the present exemplary embodiment also enable an optical detection device, an optical detection method, and a program that are capable of detecting faint light at high speed and with high sensitivity to be provided by a simple configuration.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

(84) The present exemplary embodiment is a mode that generalizes the number of modulation phases N, out of the phase modulation conditions when performing signal processing to extract the CARS light spectrum, in each of the exemplary embodiments described above. Moreover, the present exemplary embodiment is a mode that can also be applied to cases in which phase modulation is performed at plural non-orthogonal phases.

(85) First, a general representation of the light intensity I(φ.sub.N) of the resonant signal measured by the optical receiver is given by Equation (2) with respect to plural phases Φ+φ.sub.N.
I(Ø.sub.N)=I cos(Φ+Ø.sub.N)+I.sub.NRB  Equation (2)
Herein, N is an index representing different modulation phases, Φ is an unknown fixed phase, and I.sub.NRB is the intensity of the non-resonant background.

(86) For example, when the number of modulation phases N is 4, Equation (1) of the exemplary embodiments described above can be derived from Equation (2) as follows.

(87) Equations (3) are obtained by substituting φ.sub.N=0, π/2, π, 3π/2 into Equation (2).

(88) $\begin{array}{cc}I\left(0\right)=I\cos \Phi +I_{\mathrm{NRB}}I\left(\frac{\pi }{2}\right)=-I\sin \Phi +I_{\mathrm{NRB}}I\left(\pi \right)=-I\cos \Phi +I_{\mathrm{NRB}}I\left(\frac{3\pi }{2}\right)=I\sin \Phi +I_{\mathrm{NRB}}& \mathrm{Equations}\left(3\right)\end{array}$

(89) Equations (4), given below, are obtained by eliminating I.sub.NRB from Equations (3).

(90) $\begin{array}{cc}I\left(0\right)-I\left(\pi \right)=2I\cos \Phi I\left(\frac{\pi }{2}\right)-I\left(\frac{3\pi }{2}\right)=2I\sin \Phi & \mathrm{Equations}\left(4\right)\end{array}$

(91) Both sides of each Equation (4) are then raised to the power 2 so that the unknown fixed phase Φ can be eliminated, and Equation (1) is obtained similarly to Equation (5), given below, by adding Equations (4) together and taking the square root thereof.

(92) $\begin{array}{cc}2I=\sqrt{{\left\{I\left(0\right)-I\left(\pi \right)\right\}}^2+{\left\{I\left(\frac{\pi }{2}\right)-I\left(\frac{3\pi }{2}\right)\right\}}^2}& \mathrm{Equation}\left(5\right)\end{array}$
Note that the coefficient of ½ is omitted in Equation (1) since applying the coefficient to the entire right hand side of Equation (5) is unsubstantial.

(93) In the present invention, the light intensity I(φ.sub.N) can also be theoretically derived when the number of modulation phases N is 3 since there are 3 unknown amounts: I, Φ, and I.sub.NRB. As an example, Equations (6), given below, are obtained when φ.sub.N=0, 2π/3, 4π/3.

(94) $\begin{array}{cc}I\left(0\right)=I\cos \Phi +I_{\mathrm{NRB}}\begin{array}{c}I\left(\frac{2\pi }{3}\right)=I\cos \left(\Phi +\frac{2\pi }{3}\right)+I_{\mathrm{NRB}}\\ =\left(-\frac{1}{2}\cos \Phi -\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\sin \Phi \right)+I_{\mathrm{NRB}}\end{array}& \mathrm{Equations}\left(6\right)\\ I\left(\frac{4\pi }{3}\right)=I\left(-\frac{1}{2}\cos \Phi +\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\sin \Phi \right)+I_{\mathrm{NRB}}& \end{array}$

(95) Equations (7), given below, are obtained by eliminating I.sub.NRB from Equations (6).

(96) $\begin{array}{cc}{\left\{I\left(\frac{2\pi }{3}\right)-I\left(\frac{4\pi }{3}\right)\right\}}^2={\left(\sqrt{3}I\right)}^2{\left(\sin \Phi \right)}^2{\left\{I\left(\frac{2\pi }{3}\right)+I\left(\frac{4\pi }{3}\right)-2I\left(0\right)\right\}}^2={\left(3I\right)}^2{\left(\cos \Phi \right)}^2& \mathrm{Equations}\left(7\right)\end{array}$

(97) Equation (8), given below, is obtained by dividing both sides of the first equation of Equations (7) by 3, dividing both sides of the second equation of Equations (7) by 9, and then adding the equations together to eliminate Φ.

(98) $\begin{array}{cc}I=\sqrt{{\left\{\frac{I\left(\frac{2\pi }{3}\right)-I\left(\frac{4\pi }{3}\right)}{\sqrt{3}}\right\}}^2+{\left\{\frac{I\left(\frac{2\pi }{3}\right)+I\left(\frac{4\pi }{3}\right)-2I\left(0\right)}{3}\right\}}^2}& \mathrm{Equation}\left(8\right)\end{array}$

(99) The optical detection processing according to the present exemplary embodiment can also be executed according to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 6. In such cases, the number of modulation phases N=3 may be set at step S102, and modulation may be performed at the modulation phases 0, 2π/3, 4π/3 at step S108.

(100) FIG. 9 illustrates modulation phases when the number of modulation phases N is 3. As illustrated in FIG. 9, in the present exemplary embodiment, phase modulation may be performed over one period of the waveform WO of the light of the pulsed light PB at reference phase position M.sub.0 of phase 0, phase position M.sub.1 of phase 2π/3, and phase position M.sub.2 of phase 4π/3.

(101) Since the number of phase modulations N is 3, the present exemplary embodiment has the merit of enabling the calculation time for the frequency spectrum extraction to be reduced to approximately ¾ of that of the exemplary embodiments described above in which the number of phase modulations N is 4. Moreover, the modulation phases, 0, 2π3, 4π/3, according to the present exemplary embodiment are not orthogonal. Namely, the present invention can be applied even when the modulation phases are not orthogonal to one another. It is also obviously possible to set the number of modulation phases N to 3 and make the modulation phases orthogonal to each other. For example, 0, π/2, and π may be selected as the modulation phases.

(102) As described above, the present invention enables generalized application be made to plural numbers of modulation phases N, and enables application to be made to plural modulation phases that are not orthogonal.

(103) Note that although explanation has been given in each of the exemplary embodiments described above regarding examples of modes in which a CARS light spectrum is observed, there is no limitation thereto, and a mode may be employed in which signal light from the sample 26 is formed into images at each of, for example, specific spectrum widths.

(104) Although explanation has been given in each of the exemplary embodiments described above regarding examples of modes in which frequency spectra are extracted based on analytically derived calculation equations (Equation (1), Equation (8)), there is no limitation thereto, and, for example, a mode may be employed in which the frequency spectrum is extracted based on an approximate equation under the condition that the light intensity I(φ.sub.N) converges to the vicinity of 0.

(105) Moreover, although explanation has been given in each of the exemplary embodiments described above regarding examples of modes in which a phase 0 is selected as a reference when selecting phases, there is no limitation thereto, and a fixed phase φ may be selected as the reference since it is sufficient to preserve the relative relationship between the N phases. Namely, for example, the respective phases when the number of modulation phases N is 4 may be selected as 0+φ, π/2+φ, π+φ, and 3π/2+φ.

(106) The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-033129 is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

(107) All cited documents, patent applications, and technical standards mentioned in the present specification are incorporated by reference in the present specification to the same extent as if each individual cited document, patent application, or technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

(108) 10 optical detection device 12 light source 14 optical modulator 16 spectroscope 18 optical receiver 20 controller 22 signal generator 24 bandpass filter 26 sample 28 shortpass filter 30, 32 objective lens 34A, 34B retroreflector 36A, 36B, 36C reflector 38 drive mechanism-equipped retroreflector 80 Raman spectroscopy device 82 first laser pulse light source 84 second laser pulse light source 86 optical system 88 sample 90 detection device 100 optical detection device Sm spectrum marker