Patent ID: 6417924
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A surface plasmon sensor comprising:a dielectric material; a metal film formed on a face of the dielectric material and in contact with a sample; a first light source for generating a first light beam; a first optical system for letting the first light beam pass through the dielectric material and letting the first light beam be incident on a boundary surface between the dielectric material and the metal film at a first plurality of incident angles; a first light detecting unit which can detect the first light beam totally reflected by the boundary surface corresponding to the first plurality of incident angles; a second light source for generating a second light beam; a second optical system for letting the second light beam pass through the dielectric material and letting the second light beam be incident on said face of the dielectric material at a second plurality of incident angles; a second light detecting unit which can detect the second light beam regularly reflected by said face corresponding to the second plurality of incident angles; a total reflection break angle obtaining unit for obtaining a total reflection break angle of the first light beam based on a result of detection by the first light detecting unit; and a critical angle obtaining unit for obtaining a critical angle of the second light beam based on a result of detection by the second light detecting unit.