A photoacoustic wave signal converter includes a receiving portion that receives a photoacoustic wave signal generated from a detection object in a specimen that has absorbed light, detected by an ultrasonic probe and a signal conversion portion that generates a conversion signal corresponding to an ultrasonic signal generated when the ultrasonic probe receives an ultrasonic wave on the basis of the photoacoustic wave signal received by the receiving portion and outputs the conversion signal that is generated to an ultrasonic imager.
