PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect a photoacoustic wave of a higher S/N in a photoacoustic inspection using a photoacoustic effect.SOLUTION: A probe 70 used in the photoacoustic inspection includes a light applying part 15 for applying light L to a body 7 to be inspected, an electro-acoustic transducer 3 for converting the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal and a light diffusing liquid part 8 having an acoustic matching function for matching an acoustic impedance of the body 7 to be inspected with an acoustic impedance of the electro-acoustic transducer 3 and a diffusing function for diffusing the light L so as to apply to the body 7 to be inspected the light L having a substantially uniform intensity distribution on the body 7 to be inspected. The light diffusing liquid part 8 includes acoustic matching liquid 83 having the acoustic matching function and diffused particles 84 having the diffusing function which are dispersed in the acoustic matching liquid 83. The electro-acoustic transducer 3 is provided so that at least a part of the electro-acoustic transducer 3 comes into contact with the acoustic matching liquid 83.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】光音響効果を利用した光音響検査において、よりS/Nの高い光音響波を検出することを可能とする。【解決手段】光音響検査に用いられる探触子70において、光Lを被検体7に照射する光照射部15と、光音響波を電気信号に変換する電気音響変換部3と、被検体7の音響インピーダンスおよび電気音響変換部3の音響インピーダンスを整合する音響整合機能、並びに、被検体7上で略均一な強度分布を有する光Lを被検体7に照射するように光Lを拡散する拡散機能を有する光拡散液部8とを備え、光拡散液部8が、音響整合機能を担う音響整合液83と、この音響整合液83に分散された、拡散機能を担う拡散粒子84とを備え、電気音響変換部3が、電気音響変換部3の少なくとも一部が音響整合液83に接するように設けられたものとする。【選択図】図1
