OPTICAL ELEMENT, ANALYSIS EQUIPMENT, ANALYSIS METHOD AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

• US 20140242571A1
• Filed: 02/25/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: SUGIMOTO, Mamoru
• Application Number:
  US14/189,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20140242571A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/5
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/554 detecting the surface plasmon resonance of nanostructured metals, e.g. localised surface plasmon resonance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/658 enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/008 Surface plasmon devices diffractive gratings with a pitch less than or comparable to the wavelength G02B5/1809; surface plasmons in integrated optics G02B6/1226; optical analysis of materials by means of surface plasmons G01N21/553
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0816 Multilayer mirrors, i.e. having two or more reflecting layers G02B5/0883, G02B5/0891 take precedence

Abstract

An optical element includes a metal layer in which a first direction is a thickness direction; metallic particles provided to be spaced from the metal layer in the first direction; and a light transmitting layer that separates the metal layer from the metallic particles, in which the size T of the metallic particles in the first direction satisfies a relationship of 3 nm≦T≦14 nm, and the size D of the metallic particles in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction satisfies a relationship of 30 nm≦D<50 nm.

Claims

1. An optical element comprising:

a metal layer in which a first direction is a thickness direction;

a metallic particle that is provided to be spaced from the metal layer in the first direction; and

a light transmitting layer that separates the metallic particle from the metal layer,

wherein the size T of the metallic particle in the first direction satisfies a relationship of 3 nm≦

T≦

14 nm, and

wherein the size D of the metallic particle in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction satisfies a relationship of 30 nm≦

D<

50 nm.

2. The optical element according to claim 1,

wherein the size D satisfies a relationship of 30 nm≦

D≦

40 nm.

3. The optical element according to claim 1,

wherein the size T satisfies a relationship of 3 nm≦

T≦

6 nm.

4. The optical element according to claim 1,

wherein the metallic particles are disposed in a matrix form with a pitch P in the second direction and a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and

wherein the pitch P satisfies a relationship of 60 nm≦

P≦

140 nm.

5. The optical element according to claim 1,

wherein the light transmitting layer includes silicon oxide, and

wherein the thickness G of the light transmitting layer in the first direction satisfies a relationship of 10 nm≦

G≦

150 nm or 200 nm≦

G≦

350 nm.

6. The optical element according to claim 1,

wherein the light transmitting layer is formed of a dielectric having a positive dielectric constant,

wherein a secondary peak enhancement SQRT is equal to or higher than a primary peak enhancement SQRT, and

wherein the thickness G of the light transmitting layer in the first direction is a thickness at the secondary peak enhancement SQRT.

7. The optical element according to claim 1,

wherein when light having a wavelength larger than the size T and the size D is irradiated, Raman scattering light is enhanced.

8. An analysis equipment comprising:

the optical element according to claim 1;

a light source that irradiates the optical element with light; and

a detector that detects light radiated from the optical element according to light irradiation from the light source.

9. An analysis equipment comprising:

the optical element according to claim 2;

a light source that irradiates the optical element with light; and

a detector that detects light radiated from the optical element according to light irradiation from the light source.

10. An analysis equipment comprising:

the optical element according to claim 3;

a light source that irradiates the optical element with light; and

a detector that detects light radiated from the optical element according to light irradiation from the light source.

11. An analysis equipment comprising:

the optical element according to claim 4;

a light source that irradiates the optical element with light; and

a detector that detects light radiated from the optical element according to light irradiation from the light source.

12. An analysis equipment comprising:

the optical element according to claim 5;

a light source that irradiates the optical element with light; and

a detector that detects light radiated from the optical element according to light irradiation from the light source.

13. An analysis equipment comprising:

the optical element according to claim 6;

a light source that irradiates the optical element with light; and

a detector that detects light radiated from the optical element according to light irradiation from the light source.

14. An analysis equipment comprising:

the optical element according to claim 7;

a light source that irradiates the optical element with light; and

a detector that detects light radiated from the optical element according to light irradiation from the light source.

15. The analysis equipment according to claim 8,

wherein the detector detects Raman scattering light enhanced by the optical element.

16. The analysis equipment according to claim 8,

wherein the light source irradiates the optical element with light having a wavelength larger than the size T and the size D.

18. An electronic apparatus comprising:

the analysis equipment according to claim 8;

an operating section that operates health care information on the basis of detection information from the detector;

a storage section that stores the health care information; and

a display section that displays the health care information.

19. An electronic apparatus comprising:

the analysis equipment according to claim 15;

an operating section that operates health care information on the basis of detection information from the detector;

a storage section that stores the health care information; and

a display section that displays the health care information.

20. The electronic apparatus according to claim 18,

wherein the health care information includes information relating to the presence or absence or amount of at least one type of biologically related substance selected from a group that includes bacillus, virus, protein, nucleic acid, and antigens and antibodies, or at least one type of compound selected from inorganic molecules and organic molecules.

17. An analysis method comprising:

irradiating an optical element with light, and

detecting light radiated from the optical element according to the light irradiation to analyze a target,

wherein the optical element includes;

a metal layer in which a first direction is a thickness direction;

a metallic particle that is provided to be spaced from the metal layer in the first direction; and

a light transmitting layer that separates the metallic particle from, the metal layer

wherein the size T of the metallic particle in the first direction satisfies a relationship of 3 nm≦

T≦

14 nm, and

wherein the size D of the metallic particle in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction satisfies a relationship of 30 nm≦

D<

50 nm.