Photoacoustic measuring apparatus

A photoacoustic measuring apparatus, comprising:

• a light source;
• an acoustic wave transmitting section that transmits acoustic waves toward a subject;
• a light irradiating section that irradiates a light beam guided from the light source toward the subject;
• a probe including an acoustic wave detecting section that detects photoacoustic waves generated within the subject due to irradiation of the light beam onto the subject and detects reflected acoustic waves of the acoustic waves transmitted into the subject;
• a mode switching switch for switching operating modes;
• a wavelength selecting switch for selecting the wavelength of the light beam to be output from the light source;
• and
• a control section that switches among operating modes in which the acoustic wave detecting section detects at least the photoacoustic waves, and operating modes in which the acoustic wave detecting section does not detect the photoacoustic waves in response to operation of the mode switching switch, and controls the wavelength of the light beam which is output from the light source in response to operation of the wavelength selecting switch;
• at least one of the mode switching switch and the wavelength selecting switch being provided on the probe.