Analyzer, Authenticity Judging Device, Authenticity Judging Method, and Underground Searching Method

An authenticity determining apparatus for determining the authenticity of a printed matter having a pattern printed with a plurality of kinds of inks having optical characteristics different from each other in terms of at least one of absorption wavelength, reflection wavelength, and fluorescence wavelength, said apparatus comprising:

• a light source section emitting supercontinuum light having expanded a spectrum band as irradiation light emitted to the printed matter, said light source section including a seed light source emitting laser light, and a solid optical fiber generating the supercontinuum light in response to the input of the laser light;
• and
• a light-detecting section detecting light to be detected from the printed matter irradiated with the irradiation light,
• wherein the laser light emitted from said seed light source has a center wavelength within the range of 1.3 μm to 1.8 μm.

An authenticity determining apparatus for determining the authenticity of a printed matter coated with a plurality of kinds of inks different from each other in terms of fluorescence wavelength and fluorescence life, said apparatus comprising:

• a light source section emitting supercontinuum light having expanded a spectrum band as irradiation light emitted to the printed matter, said light source section including a seed light source emitting laser light, and a solid optical fiber generating the supercontinuum light in response to the input of the laser light;
• and
• a light-detecting section detecting light to be detected generated when the plurality of kinds of inks are pumped with the irradiation light,
• wherein the laser light emitted from said seed light source has a center wavelength within the range of 1.3 μm to 1.8 μm, and
• wherein said light-detecting section detects light emitted from the printed matter in synchronization with a fluorescence of the irradiation light from said light source section.

An authenticity determining method for determining the authenticity of a printed matter, said method comprising:

• an irradiation step of making laser light incident on a solid optical fiber, so as to generate supercontinuum light within said solid optical fiber, and irradiating the printed matter with the supercontinuum light as irradiation light;
• a detection step of detecting light to be detected from the printed matter irradiated with the irradiation light;
• and
• a determination step of using one of wavelength components included in the light to be detected as a determination reference wavelength, and determining whether the printed matter is authentic or not in accordance with an optical intensity of the determination reference wavelength,
• wherein said determination step divides a region where the authenticity of the printed matter is determined into a plurality of areas, and allocates determination reference wavelengths different from each other to thus divided areas, respectively.

An underground searching step for searching for a specific substance underground, said method comprising:

• a drilling step of drilling underground;
• an irradiation step of making laser light incident on a solid optical fiber, so as to generate supercontinuum light within said solid optical fiber, and emitting the supercontinuum light as irradiation light to a predetermined location within an area of the drilling;
• a detection step of detecting light to be detected from the predetermined location irradiated with the irradiation light;
• and
• a determination step of determining whether the specific substance exists or not in accordance with an intensity of a specific wavelength component included in the light to be detected.