Problem to be solved: to provide a photoacoustic apparatus capable of obtaining an image of a good image quality while carrying out high-density mounting of light irradiation position.Solution: a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices, an ultrasonic receiving portion receiving an ultrasonic wave generated by irradiation of light from a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices to an object to output electric signals, an image generating portion for reconstructing an image relating to an object based on an electric signal, and a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices The sample has a control section for controlling the light emitting pattern of a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices such that light is emitted at different positions and times to each other, and the image forming portion is subject to the subject at different positions and timesA plurality of electrical signals derived from the illuminated light are reconstructed independently of each other to generate a plurality of images, thereby generating a composite image composed of a plurality of images.Diagram【課題】光の照射位置の高密度な実装をしつつ、良好な画質の画像を得ることができる光音響装置を提供すること。【解決手段】複数の半導体発光素子と、複数の半導体発光素子から被検体への光の照射により発生する超音波を受信して電気信号を出力する超音波受信部と、電気信号に基づいて、被検体に関する画像を再構成する画像生成部と、複数の半導体発光素子から被検体へ、互いに異なる位置及び時刻に光が照射されるように複数の半導体発光素子の発光パターンを制御する制御部と、を有し、前記画像生成部は、互いに異なる位置及び時刻に被検体に照射された光に由来する複数の電気信号を、互いに独立に再構成して複数の画像を生成し、複数の画像を合成した合成画像を生成する。【選択図】図6
