PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light detection device and a light detection method that are capable of the heterodyne detection of light desired to be detected with high sensitivity and a high SN ratio, and a microscope, and an endoscope.SOLUTION: A light detection device comprises: local emission light generation means 10 for generating local emission light irradiation light generation light source which generates irradiation light to irradiate a subject, and is different from the local emission light generation means 10 photoelectric conversion means 20 for generating a beat signal of the local emission light and light to be detected by applying photoelectric conversion to the light to be detected generated by the irradiation light reflecting, passing through, deflecting, and diffracting at the subject and the local emission light and heterodyne detection means for detecting the light to be detected by heterodyne detection on the basis of the output of the photoelectric conversion means 20. The light spectrum line width of the local emission light emitted by the local emission light generation means 10 is wider than the operation bandwidth of the heterodyne detection means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1COPYRIGHT: (C)2016,JPO&INPIT【課題】所望の被検出光を高感度かつ高SN比でヘテロダイン検出できる光検出装置および光検出方法、並びに、顕微鏡および内視鏡を提供する。【解決手段】局発光を発生する局発光発生手段10と、被検体に照射する照射光を発生する、局発光発生手段10とは異なる照射光発生光源と、被検体において照射光が反射、透過、屈折、回折することによって生成された被検出光と局発光とを光電変換して前記局発光と前記被検出光とのビート信号を生成する光電変換手段20と、光電変換手段20の出力に基づいて被検出光をヘテロダイン検出するヘテロダイン検出手段とを備え、局発光発生手段10により発せられる局発光の光スペクトル線幅が、ヘテロダイン検出手段の動作帯域よりも広いことを特徴とする光検出装置を提供する。【選択図】図1
