This paper describes detection probe‐tip configuration optimization for a photopyroelectric thermal‐wave imaging instrument. In order to obtain reconstructed thermal‐wave tomographic images with high fidelity, it is necessary to obtain the optimum conditions of the detection probe‐tip configuration. These conditions were obtained by analyzing the electric fields around a capacitive‐coupled detection probe‐tip using finite‐element‐method (FEM) analysis. Experimental results are also shown, verifying the FEM analysis results. It was also confirmed that the equivalent probe‐tip diameter determined from our previous experimental work agreed almost perfectly with that obtained using FEM analysis. As a result, high‐fidelity thermal‐wave tomographic images were obtained. ©1995 American Institute of Physics.