10 nm Spatial Resolution Fluorescence Imaging of Single Molecules by Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy Using a Tiny Aperture Probe

We demonstrate high-resolution fluorescence imaging of single molecules using near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) with a tiny aperture probe for two different wavelengths in visible range in the illumination mode of operation. The spatial resolutions obtained at both excitation wavelengths were almost the same and the highest resolution realized was about 10 nm. To discuss the achievable resolution in aperture NSOM, we also employed a computer simulation by the finite-difference time-domain method for various aperture sizes and wavelengths. The resolution of 10 nm is predicted to be contributed by the single peak of localized near-field light around the rim of the aperture.     

近场显微干涉成像中的探测角度和偏振问题研究

用偶极子耦合系统来模拟近场干涉测量中的探针样品关系,并利用各电场分量之间的组合方程组精确计算出其可能探测到的强度和相位像。结果显示,近场干涉所测量到的近场像的分辨力和探测器的方位及参考光的偏振方向之间有较强的依赖关系,随着探测器位置不同或者参考光偏振方向的变化,同一样品在同一照明条件下所得到的图像也会发生明显的改变。在倏逝波照明的情况下,近场像的精确度随着探测器相对于样品视角的增大而改善,且在不同偏振方向的近场像中,只有偏振方向垂直于样品表面的像能真实反映样品的细节分布,且同时具有足够的强度分布。     

用扫描近场光学显微镜技术研究金膜表面等离体子共振

表面等离体子波(SPW)可与入射光横磁波极化能量耦合并被共振激发,这种现象被称为表面等离体子共振现象(SPR)。主要利用扫描近场光学显微镜(SNOM)技术和表面等离体子共振现象技术相结合,来研究金膜表面等离体子共振。设计并建立了结构独特的新型Kretschmann型表面等离体子共振现象耦合装置,同时又设计了具有厚度梯度的表面等离体子的制备方法。在此基础上,测量了改变入射角条件下的表面等离体子共振曲线,测得该装置的等离体子共振角灵敏度为1°。并且对金膜表面进行表面等离体子共振条件下的扫描近场光学显微成像。实验结果表明,在共振时金膜表面的扫描成像比不共振时清晰,而且增加了很多细节。应用表面等离体子共振现象技术将可以明显提高扫描近场光学显微镜的信噪比、分辨力等性能。     

Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy Combined with a Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscope

Tapping mode atomic force microscopy is used to control the tip-sample distance in near field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), which gives both topographic and near-field images simultaneously. The evanescent waves are scattered by a vibrating silicon-nitride tip in the proximity of sample surfaces and are detected through a microscope objective. This NSOM allows the observation of opaque samples with reflection illumination. A glass grating of 1-μm pitch and an InP grating of 0.5-μm pitch are observed with a lateral resolution of 100 nm.Presented at 1996 International Workshop on Interferometry (IWI ‘96), August 27-29, Saitama, Japan     

扫描近场光学显微镜中两类光纤探针传输特性的研究

采用局域模式耦合理论，对扫描近场光学显微镜中的两类光纤探针－腐蚀锥和熔拉锥的传输特性进行了比较和分析。给出了光在探针锥中传输时耦合效率的分布情况，以及传输效率随锥长，针尖直径和光波长变化的特性。     

Theoretical Analyses on the Resolution of Collection Mode Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy

Numerical simulations have been carried out in the framework of waveguide theory to model collection mode scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). The theoretical model includes the optical fiber end and describes the metal coated aperture on the probe tip. The developed formalism goes beyond the existing Bethe-Bouwkamp theories for electromagnetic transmission of subwavelength apertures. The finite coating and optical fiber end are now taken into account. The new features enable us to simulate the near-field probes that are widely used in the collection mode SNOM. The emphases of the numerical analyses have been mainly on the resolution mechanism of the microscopy. Influence on the resolution from important parameters of the probe tips, such as the size of the apertures and the probe-sample distance, is extensively studied. The resolution dependence has been analyzed in the light of the near-field coupling efficiency of the probe tip. An optimum tip size has been found which is balanced between the significant signal transmission and the resolution of the device.     

Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy and Microspectroscopy of Green Fluorescent Protein in Intact Escherichia coli Bacteria

Scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) yields high-resolution topographic and optical information and constitutes an important new technique for visualizing biological systems. By coupling a spectrograph to a near-field microscope, we have been able to perform microspectroscopic measurements with a spatial resolution greatly exceeding that of the conventional optical microscope. Here we present SNOM images of Escherichia coli bacteria expressing a mutant green fluorescent protein (GFP), an important reporter molecule in cell, developmental, and molecular biology. Near-field emission spectra confirm that the fluorescence detected by SNOM arises from bacterially expressed GFP molecules.     

近场光学显微技术

本文在介绍近场光学显微镜原理的基础上，对近场光学显微技术进行了一定深度的探讨，并着重研究了纳米级探针的制作和纳米级样品与探针间距的控制这两个近场光学显微技术中的关键问题，说明了近场光学显微探针的工作方式，阐述了近场光学成像的衬度类型，介绍了近场光学显微技术在多个领域的应用。在参考大量国内外最新研究成果的基础上，提出了一些个人的见解。     

Resolution of Internal Total ReflectionScanning Near-field Optical Microscopy

In this paper, the probe-sample interaction equation based on Mie's scattering theory is derived, and the resolution of scanning near field optical microscopy is calculated numerically. The results show that the offset of far-field component to near-field component in total field plays an important role in the resolution and the size of samples also has influence on resolution.     

Resolution of Internal Total Reflection Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy

In this paper, the probe-sample interaction equation based on Mie′s scattering theory is derived, and the resolution of scanning near field optical microscopy is calculated numerically. The results show that the offset of far-field component to near-field component in total field plays an important role in the resolution and the size of samples also has influence on resolution.     

细菌视紫红质近场光存储特性的研究

结合近场光学显微镜，利用菌紫质M态和基态之间的跃迁，对BR—D96N样品作了静态近场光存储特性的研究。结果表明，近场区域内细菌视紫外质在光激发前后对红光的吸收有较大差别，而且激发后无光照时会缓慢弛豫到激发前的状态，具有光致变色特性和热弛豫特性，可望作为近场光存储材料和微光学信息处理器件材料。     

The Influence of Defects on the Propagation Light within Polymeric Optical Waveguides Studied by Polarized Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy

We have developed a polarization-preserving near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) optical fiber probe and with it observed the influence of defects and weak stresses on a propagation light within polymeric optical waveguides. To characterize the influence, we intentionally printed an indentation in the vicinity of the waveguide and then evaluated the resulting influence using polarized guide-collection-mode NSOM images taken around the indentation. When transverse magnetic polarized light enters a waveguide, the light intensity becomes greater on the near side of the indentation than on the far side, as measured by a linearly polarized component perpendicular to the direction of light propagation. The most probable cause of this phenomenon is microdefects generated by the printing of the indentation. The polarized NSOM technique is useful in searching for small defects or stresses within integrated photonic devices.     

Reducing Background Light Interaction in Near-Field Optical Microscopy Using Lateral and Vertical Probe-Dithering

We investigate the effectiveness of differential detection, which is a combination of probe-dithering and synchronous detection, in discriminating near-field light interaction from background light interaction in apertureless near-field optical microscopy (NSOM). The lateral differential NSOM with a photocantilever is more effective than the vertical differential detection, which does not always provide sufficient discrimination. The V-dithering-based lateral differential detection provides apertureless NSOM that can image the optical coupling between sample and probe dipoles, which is an interaction through near-field light.This paper was originally presented at the 5th International Conference on NEAR FIELD OPTICS and RELATED TECHNOLOGIES (NFO-5), which was held on December 6–10, 1998 at Coganoi Bay Hotel, Shirahama, Japan, in cooperation with the Japan Society of Applied Physics and Mombusho Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas “Near-field Nano-optics” Project, sponsored by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.     

扫描近场光学显微镜光纤锥中导波反射特性

利用局部模耦合模型理论上分析了扫描近场光学显微镜光纤的光场性质,给出光纤维中存在的正,反向传播的基模场微分方程,以及基模反向耦合系数的数值计算结果,其最高反射系数达１％左右。这种反射光可起着光纤维激光器谐振腔输出端镜的作用。     

制备扫描近场光学显微镜光纤探针的自动化腐蚀方法

提出了一种制备扫描近场光学显微镜光纤探针的自动化腐蚀方案.该方案利用静态腐蚀过程中光纤所形成的特殊结构,及动态腐蚀过程中光纤在氢氟酸中的移动所带来的新月形弯液面在光纤表面接触位置的变化,通过合理控制腐蚀时间来制备尖端锐利、大锥角或多锥体角等各种结构的探针.设计方案采用计算机控制整个装置实现了探针制备过程的自动化,保持了腐蚀光纤探针实验条件的一致性.实验结果表明,采用此方案可以制备出尖端孔径小于100 nm且锥体角高达70°的光纤探针,且重复性高.此外,该方案的装置结构简单,实现容易.     

原子力与光子扫描隧道组合显微镜

介绍了超高分辨光于扫描隧遭显微镜（PSTM）的计冗历程,为解决第一代（单光束照明）光千扫捕隧逼显傲镜中存在人为假象和样品光学图像与形貌图像难于分离两个难题,用“对称双光束照明方法消假象,用原子力与光子扫描隧道组合显微镜（AF／PSTM）图像分解方法分离样品光学透过率、折射率与形貌图像。研制成功新一代原子力与光子扫描隧道组合显微镜（AF／PSTM）样机。该样机在一次扫描中已获得两幅原子力显微镜图像（形貌与相位）和两幅光学图像（透过率和折射率）,有效地减少了假象,分解了样品光学折射率、透过率与形貌图像。     

In Vitro Monitoring of Live Cardiomyocytes Dynamics by a Scanning Near Field Optical Microscope Setup

We describe an original scanning near field optical microscope setup developed to examine rhythmically beating cardiac myocytes fully immersed in culture media. Scans could be halted at any point to record localized contraction profiles. Contractions could be detected with high sub nanometric vertical sensitivity and changed shape dramatically within adjacent sub micron-sized areas. We believe that the spatial dependency of contractions arises because of system’s ability to resolve the dynamic behavior of individual sub membrane actin bundles. Our results, combining imaging and real time recording in localized areas, reveal a new, non-invasive method for studying sub micron morphological activity in live biological samples.This paper was originally presented at the 5th International Conference on NEAR FIELD OPTICS and RELATED TECHNLOGIES (NFO-5), which was held on December 6–10, 1998 at Coganoi Bay Hotel, Shirahama, Japan, in cooperation with the Japan Society of Applied Physics and Mombusho Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas “Near-Field Nano-optics” Projects, sponsored by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.     

近场光学虚拟光探针的数值分析

虚拟光探针是基于近场光学隐失场干涉原理产生的一种非实体探针，可以应用于近场光学超高密度存储、纳米光刻、近场光学成像、光谱探测、纳米样品的近场光学操作等领域。本研究采用三维时间域有限差分（FDTD）方法对近场光学虚拟光探针的光场分布特性进行了数值模拟计算和比较，分析了孔的形状、大小及偏振态等因素对虚拟光探针光场分布的影响，研究结果表明虚拟光探针的通光效率较普通的纳米孔径光纤探针提高10^2-10^4倍；其光场分布的中间峰的半峰全宽（即虚拟光探针的尺寸）在一定距离范围内基本保持不变，从而可以解决近场光学系统中纳米间距控制的难题，避免光学头与介质的磁撞。优化虚拟光探针的设计参量能有效的抑制虚拟光探针中的旁瓣。文章还给出了应用虚拟探针实现高密度光存储的原理方案。     

反射式光纤共焦扫描成像的研究

建立了反射式光纤共焦扫描成像系统,分析了光纤－集光透镜参数Ａ及物透镜有效数值孔径等对系统成像分辨率的影响。并在此基础上选择了合适参数的透镜,获得了优化的反射式光纤共焦扫描成像系统,测试结果表明,该系统具有亚微米级横向成像能力,微米级向层析能力,成像稳定性那,它将应用于材料及生物组织三维成像检测中。     

Fabrication of a Near-Field Optical Fiber Probe with a Nanometric Metallized Protrusion

We have developed a novel probe with a nanometric metallized protrusion extending through a subwavelength aperture to increase optical near-field excitation and collection efficiencies. The apex diameter of the fabricated metallized protrusion was 35 nm. The Intensity distribution of the optical near-field at the apex of the probe was measured by scanning another probe across the apex, and it was observed that strong optical near-field was generated at the apex of the metallized protrusion. The width of the intensity distribution was 150 nm including instrumental resolution. Probes with spherical and ellipsoidal metallized protrusion were also fabricated, by which enhancement of the optical near-field is expected due to localized plasmon excitation.