Detection device, information reproduction device, drive device, sensor, and detection method

1. A detection device, comprising:

a light source configured to emit emission light;

a scattering substance situated near a target object and configured to cause plasmon resonance between the scattering substance and the target object, the scattering substance moving relatively along a surface of the target object;

a light guide portion configured to guide the emission light to the scattering substance and cause first reflected light which is reflected from the scattering substance; and

a detector configured to detect a state in phase of the first reflected light,

wherein the light guide portion guides the emission light to the target object to cause second reflected light which is reflected from the target object, and

wherein the detector detects a state in phase of the second reflected light.

2. The detection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the plasmon resonance changes in intensity in response to a state of the target object, and

wherein the state in phase changes in response to a change in the intensity of the plasmon resonance.

3. The detection device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a reference light generator configured to generate reference light,

wherein the detector includes an interference optical system, which causes interference between the reference light and the first reflected light to cause interfering light, and a photo-receiver configured to detect the interfering light, and

wherein the photo-receiver generates an output signal in response to the interfering light.

4. The detection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the detector includes a synthesizer, which synthesizes a synthetic wave from the first reflected light and the second reflected light, and an inclination detector configured to detect an inclination of an optical axis of the synthetic wave, and

wherein the inclination detector detects the state in phase with reference to the inclination.

5. A detection device, comprising:

a light source configured to emit emission light;

a scattering substance situated near a target object and configured to cause plasmon resonance between the scattering substance and the target object;

a light guide portion configured to guide the emission light to the scattering substance and cause first reflected light which is reflected from the scattering substance; and

a detector configured to detect a state in phase of the first reflected light,

wherein the light guide portion guides the emission light to the target object to cause second reflected light which is reflected from the target object,

wherein the detector detects a state in phase of the second reflected light,

wherein the target object is a structure formed on an information recording medium,

wherein the structure is in an unrecorded state without a recording operation and is put into a recorded state by a recording operation,

wherein the plasmon resonance changes in intensity in response to whether the structure is in the recorded state or the unrecorded state, and

wherein the detector detects the state in phase to identify whether the structure is in the recorded state or the unrecorded state.

6. The detection device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the structure includes a phase change material, which changes in phase between a crystalline state and a non-crystalline state, and

wherein one of the crystalline state and the non-crystalline state corresponds to the recorded state whereas another of the crystalline state and the non-crystalline state corresponds to the unrecorded state.

7. An information reproduction device, comprising:

the detection device according to claim 5 ,

wherein the information reproduction device uses the detection device to identify whether the structure is in the recorded state or the unrecorded state, and reproduces information recorded on the information recording medium.

8. A drive device, comprising:

the detection device according to claim 1 ;

a driver configured to drive an information recording medium; and

a controller configured to control the driver and the detection device in response to an output signal from the detection device.

9. A sensor, comprising:

the detection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the plasmon resonance changes in intensity in response to whether the target object contains a specific material, and

wherein the detection device detects the state in phase to identify whether the target object contains the specific material.

10. A sensor, comprising:

the detection device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the plasmon resonance changes in intensity in response to a shape of the target object, and

wherein the detection device detects the state in phase to identify the shape of the target object.

11. The sensor according to claim 9 ,

wherein the detection device outputs an output signal in response to the state in phase according to homodyne interferometry.

12. A detection method, comprising steps of:

emitting emission light;

guiding the emission light to a scattering substance situated near a target object to reflect the emission light from the scattering substance and cause first reflected light;

guiding the emission light to the target object to cause second reflected light which is reflected from the target object;

detecting a state in phase of the first reflected light and the second reflected light based on plasmon resonance between the target object and the scattering substance; and

moving the scattering substance relatively along a surface of the object.