PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform irradiation by changing over between irradiation of illumination light of a microspot by near-field light and irradiation of illumination light to a wider range.SOLUTION: This irradiation probe 1 includes: a light guide part 4 guiding the illumination light and a transmission member 6 covering the tip of the light guide part 4, and made of a thin film of a material which transmits the illumination light L having an intensity higher than a prescribed threshold value and blocks transmission of the illumination light L having an intensity not more than the threshold value. The transmission member 6 is formed with at least one minute opening 7 penetrating the transmission member 6 in the thickness direction, and having a maximum dimension in the diameter direction less than the wavelength of the illumination light L.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】近接場光による微小スポットの照明光の照射と、更に広い範囲への照明光の照射を切り替えて行う。【解決手段】照明光を導光する導光部4と、該導光部4の先端を被覆し、所定の閾値より高い強度の照明光Lを透過し、閾値以下の強度の照明光Lの透過を阻止する材質の薄膜からなる透過部材6とを備え、該透過部材6に、該透過部材6を厚さ方向に貫通し、径方向の最大寸法が照明光Lの波長より小さい1つ以上の微小開口7が設けられている照射プローブ1を提供する。【選択図】図3
