Photoacoustic apparatus and method for controlling the same

A photoacoustic apparatus comprising:

• a detecting unit including a plurality of receiving elements configured to detect an acoustic wave that is generated when an analyte is irradiated with light;
• a signal processing unit configured to acquire information about the inside of the analyte from a detected signal acquired from the detecting unit;
• a plurality of optical absorbers configured to absorb the irradiation light;
• and
• a reception characteristic calculation unit configured to calculate reception characteristic information of the plurality of receiving elements on the basis of detected signals when the plurality of receiving elements receive an acoustic wave that is generated from the optical absorbers;
• and
• plates configured to fix the analyte from both sides,
• wherein the optical absorbers are arranged in at least one of the plates or on a surface of the at least one plate such that the optical absorbers are separated from each other and a movable mechanism configured to move the at least one plate on which the optical absorbers are arranged to a position at which the optical absorbers are not irradiated with the light when the analyte is measured.