Near-Field Optical Microscope with Tapping Illumination and Synchronous Detection

We use the tapping illumination and synchronous detection in a scanning near-field optical microscopy to obtain a near-field optical signal that is separated from the far-field signal. The illumination light was irradiated from the bent fiber tip vibrating normal to the sample surface. The transmitted light synchronized with the tapping vibration was observed. The obtained image of an organic film shows that this technique is effective for the weak contrast samples.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.     

Recent progress of nano-technology with NSOM

Recent progress of nano-technology with near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) is surveyed in this article. We focus mainly on NSOM, nano-scale spectroscopy with NSOM, probe technology of NSOM, and study of nano-structured metallic surface with NSOM. First, we follow developments of aperture NSOM and apertureless NSOM, and then address progress of NSOM-combined spectroscopy which is so sufficiently advanced with apertureless NSOM technology to provide chemical information on length scales of a few nanometers. Recent achievement of nano-scale Raman and IR spectroscopy will be introduced. Finally, research on nano-optic elements using surface plasmon polariton with NSOM is introduced as an example of NSOM applications to nano-structured metallic surfaces.     

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     

Interaction of Near-Field Light with Ordered Polystyrene Spheres: Experimental Studies

We have experimentally observed the interaction of near-field light excited in a total internal reflection geometry with a periodic two-dimensional array of polystyrene spheres. The angular- and frequencyscanned attenuated-total-reflection (ATR) method was employed to observe the interaction. ATR spectra indicate that there is an easy axis and a difficult axis for the light propagation. When light is incident toward the easy axis, resonant dips appear in the ATR spectra. The experimental results were compared with those obtained by finite-difference time-domain analysis. The numerical results obtained by this method are able to explain a part of the experimental ones. Parts of the dips in the ATR spectra were considered to stem from propagating and whispering-gallery (WG) modes. That is, the propagation of the WG-modes over several spheres may enhance the coupling between the spheres and the incident light, and consequently may induce resonant structures in the ATR spectra.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 “Nearfield Nano-optics” Project, sponsored by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.     

Simulations of Two-Dimensional Photon Scanning Tunneling Microscope by Boundary Integral Equation Method: p-polarization

Accurate simulations of a two-dimensional photon scanning tunneling microscope (2D-PSTM) for incident p-polarized waves (TM-mode) have been performed by the boundary integral equations called guided-mode extracted integral equations. The method used in this paper is a global method and the case of uncoated dielectric probe is treated. Complete and rigorous integral equations for a given configuration of 2D-PSTM have been solved numerically by the conventional boundary-element method with high accuracy. Using three universal laws, i.e., the optical theorem, the energy conservation law and the reciprocity relation for incident p-polarized waves, numerical results have been confirmed. The basic physical characteristics of interaction between probe-tip and near-field for incident p-polarized waves are compared in detail with those of incident s-polarized waves (TE-mode) which are previously reported.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 “Nearfield Nano-optics” Project, sponsored by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.     

Finite-Difference Time-Domain Analysis of the Interaction of Gaussian Evanescent Light with a Single Dielectric Sphere or Ordered Dielectric Spheres

The interaction of gaussian evanescent light with a single dielectric sphere or ordered dielectric spheres in an attenuated total reflection (ATR) geometry was analyzed by the finite-difference time-domain method. Various aspects of this interaction were investigated in terms of spatial visualizations of light intensity, reflectance vs. wavelength characteristics, the transient behavior of reflectances, and so forth. In the case of a single sphere, it was evident that the whispering gallery mode can be excited in ATR geometries, but such excitation cannot be easily confirmed only through the observation of wavelength-scanned ATR spectra. In the case of a closely packed two-dimensional array of dielectric spheres, it was found that an easy axis and also a difficult axis for light propagation exist.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 Phisics and Mombusho Grantin Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas “Near-field Nano-optics” Project, sponsored by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.     

Nanometer-scale probing of optical and thermal near-fields with an apertureless NSOM

We have used a home-made apertureless near-field scanning optical microscope (ANSOM) for mapping nanometric steps between SiC and gold regions under visible (λ=655 nm) and infrared (λ=10.6 μm) illumination. The images, obtained with a signal demodulation at the tip oscillation frequency and at higher harmonics, clearly show optical contrasts with a subwavelength resolution of about 30 nm. Other images recorded in the visible on a YBa₂Cu₃O₇ crystal indicate that the tip used in our experiments is able to reveal polarization effects. We also present a near-field thermal optical microscope (NTOM) which operates without any external illumination. In this new kind of microscope, the laser source which is usually used to excite the evanescent waves, is replaced by a simple heating of the sample. The electromagnetic radiation locally scattered by the tip comes from the thermal radiation. Our results with this new technique prove a 200 nm lateral resolution.     

Application of Solid Immersion Lens to Submicron Resolution Imaging of Nano-Scale Quantum Wells

We have discussed the resolution of submicron photoluminescence (PL) imaging using a solid immersion lens (SIL), which collects an evanescent light field. We apply the SIL microscope to measure PL image of a strip-line-patterned GaAs quantum well structure at low temperature. An improved resolution beyond diffraction limit and high collection efficiency of PL are realized.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 “Nearfield Nano-optics” Project, sponsored by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.     

Theoretical Studies on the Second Hyperpolarizabilities of Trithiapentalene and Its Donor and Acceptor Disubstituted Species

We study the third-order optical nonlinearity for some interesting ϖ-conjugated systems involving sulfur (S) atoms. The static second hyperpolarizabilities (γ) for l, 6, 6a-trithiapentalene and its donor-and acceptor-disubstituted species are calculated by ab initio molecular orbital and density functional methods. Using the second hyperpolarizability density analysis, these molecules are found to exhibit remarkable differences in spatial ϖ-electron contributions of unusual binding structure, i.e., S-S-S bridged structure, to the longitudinal γ.This paper was originally presented at the 5th International Conference on NEAR FIELD OPTICS and RELATED THECHNOLOGIES (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 Science Research on Priority Areas “Near-field Nano-optics” Project, sponsored by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.     

A polarizing situation: Taking an in-plane perspective for next-generation near-field studies

By enabling the probing of light–matter interactions at the functionally relevant length scales of most materials, near-field optical imaging and spectroscopy accesses information that is unobtainable with other methods. The advent of apertureless techniques, which exploit the ultralocalized and enhanced near-fields created by sharp metallic tips or plasmonic nanoparticles, has resulted in rapid adoption of near-field approaches for studying novel materials and phenomena, with spatial resolution approaching sub-molecular levels. However, these approaches are generally limited by the dominant out-of-plane polarization response of apertureless tips, restricting the exploration and discovery of many material properties. This has led to recent design and fabrication breakthroughs in near-field tips engineered specifically for enhancing in-plane interactions with near-field light components. This mini-review provides a perspective on recent progress and emerging directions aimed at utilizing and controlling in-plane optical polarization, highlighting key application spaces where in-plane near-field tip responses have enabled recent advancements in the understanding and development of new nanostructured materials and devices.     

Cloaking apertureless near-field scanning optical microscopy tips

We numerically demonstrate that properly designed plasmonic covers can be used to enhance the performance of near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) systems based on the employment of apertureless metallic tip probes. The covering material, exhibiting a near-zero value of the real permittivity at the working frequency, is designed in such a way to dramatically reduce the undesired scattering due to the strongly plasmonic behavior of the tip. Though the light scattering by the tip end is necessary for the correct operation of NSOMs, the additional scattering due to the whole probe affects the signal-to-noise ratio and thus the resolution of the acquired image. By covering the whole probe but not the very tip, we show that unwanted scattering can be effectively reduced. A realistic setup, working at mid-IR frequencies and employing silicon carbide covers, has been designed and simulated to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Characterization of strong electromagnetic field confinement on gold nanostructures by apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy

We report on the detection of the optical near field of a 1D gold particle array by using an apertureless scanning near-field optical microscope. The strong near-field confinement measured above the grating proves unambiguously the near-field origin of the detected optical signal. Comparing the experiment with theory leads us to assign the optical near field to the first diffracted order of the grating, which is evanescent.     

Dual mode near-field scanning optical microscopy for near-field imaging of surface plasmon polariton

In this paper, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate that metal coated apertured probes are efficient near-field probes on surfaces with high reflectivity for the scattering as well as for the collection mode near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM). We show that a blunt apertured metal coated tip is very effective in suppressing image dipoles which affect strongly the signals scattered from frequently used sharp metal tips or gold nanoparticle attached probes. By using a simultaneous collection and scattering mode (dual mode) NSOM we measure the near-field images of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) launched from a slit. The collection mode measures propagating SPP along lateral distance in a long scan range with high signal-to-noise ratio, and the scattering mode measures the polarization resolved near-field of SPP. Comparisons of the measured data obtained in the dual mode enable to easily characterize SPP and to separate the measured near-field into the propagating SPP and the directly transmitted light.     

Theoretical Study on the Second Hyperpolarizabilities for Small Radical Systems

We study the second hyperpolarizabilities (ɣ) for anion, neutral and cation radicals and find that magnitudes of ɣ (| ɣ |) of the radicals are sensitively influenced by features of each charged state. It is also found that electron-correlation dependence of ɣ could be related to the resonance structure contributing to the ground state of the molecules.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.     

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.     

Experimental Analysis of Optical Trapping System Using Tapered Hemispherically Lensed Optical Fiber

We describe the operation and performance of an optical fiber trap realized using a tapered hemispherically lensed optical fiber. Axial and transverse trapping forces exerted on a microsphere are experimentally analyzed to corroborate the optical trapping using an optical fiber. Experimental results are as follows. (i) Transverse force F_tr acting on a sphere is a restoring force that acts to pull the microsphere back to the center of trap. (ii) Axial force F_ax always acts to push a sphere in the direction of the beam away from the trapping fiber end. (iii) Vector sum of F_tr and F_ax acting on a sphere gives a restoring force directed back to the stable point. (iv) Transverse force F_tr plays a significant role in trapping a micro-sized object by means of an optical fiber.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.     

Electroless nickel plating on optical fiber probe

As a component of near-field scanning optical microscope （NSOM）, optical fiber probe is an important factor influncing the equipment resolution. Electroless nickel plating is introduced to metallize the optical fiber probe. The optical fibers are etched by 40% HF with Turner etching method. Through pretreatment, the optical fiber probe is coated with Ni-P film by electroless plating in a constant temperature water tank. Atomic absorption spectrometry （AAS）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry （EDXS） are carried out to characterize the deposition on fiber probe. We have reproducibly fabricated two kinds of fiber probes with a Ni-P film： aperture probe and apertureless probe. In addition, reductive particle transportation on the surface of fiber probe is proposed to explain the cause of these probes.     

High-Contrast Imaging of Nano-Channels Using Reflection Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscope Enhanced by Optical Interference

We demonstrated a contrast enhancement in a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) by optical interference with an aperture probe in reflection (illumination-collection) mode operation. We observed a NiO film deposited on a sapphire substrate and clearly visualized 2-nm-deep nano-channel structures on the surface of the film. The reflection NSOM enhanced by optical interference is quite a promising instrument for high-resolution optical detection and estimation of low-contrast nanostructures.     

Near-field microscopy with a single-photon point-like emitter: Resolution versus the aperture tip?

We discuss theoretically the concept of spatial resolution in near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) in light of a recent work [Opt. Express 17 (2009) 19969] which reported on the achievement of active tips made of a single ultrasmall fluorescent nanodiamond grafted onto the apex of a substrate tip and on their validation in NSOM imaging. Since fluorescent nanodiamonds tend to decrease steadily in size, we assimilate a nanodiamond-based tip to a point-like single photon source and compare its ultimate resolution with that offered by standard metal-coated aperture NSOM tips. We demonstrate both classically and quantum mechanically that NSOM based on a point-like tip has a resolving power that is only limited by the scan height over the imaged system whereas the aperture-tip resolution depends critically on both the scan height and aperture diameter. This is a consequence of the complex distribution of the electromagnetic field around the aperture that tends to artificially duplicate the imaged objects. We show that the point-like tip does not suffer from this “squint” and that it rapidly approaches its ultimate resolution in the near-field as soon as its scan height falls below the distance between the two nano-objects to be resolved.     

Field Enhancement by a Metallic Sphere on Dielectric Substrates

We calculate the scattered local field around a small gold sphere on dielectric substrates which is illuminated by a collimated monochromatic beam. The numerical results show the field between the sphere and the substrate is much enhanced when the sphere is illuminated by a p-polarized beam. The enhanced area is very localized between the sphere and the substrate and the diameter of the enhanced area on the surface of the substrate is one fifth of the sphere diameter. The field increases as the gap distance decreases or as the refractive index of the substrate increases.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 Area “Near-field Nano-optics” Project, sponsored by Japan Society for Promotion of Science.