Interaction of terahertz electromagnetic radiation with a probe-object system in a terahertz apertureless near-field microscope

The mechanism of the interaction of coherent terahertz radiation with a probe-nanoobject system has been experimentally investigated in a terahertz apertureless near-field microscope. It has been found that the type of the material of a sample under the probe, as well as the geometry of the probe, determines the form of the dependence of the differential signal of the terahertz field on the distance between the probe and sample. The amplitude of the modulation of the probe height significantly affects the spectral composition of the differential terahertz signal, which is directly related to the amplitude and phase of a terahertz wave scattered by the probe-nanoobject system.     

Sensitivity analysis of scanning near-field optical microscope probe

In this paper, we study the dynamic modes of a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) which uses an optical fiber probe; and the sensitivity of flexural and axial vibration modes for the probe were derived and the closed-form expressions were obtained. According to the analysis, as expected each mode has a different sensitivity and the first mode is the most sensitive mode of flexural and axial vibration for the SNOM probe. The sensitivities of both flexural and axial modes are greater for a material surface that is compliant with the cantilever probe. As the contact stiffness increases, the high-order vibration modes are more sensitive than the lower-order modes. Furthermore, the axial contact stiffness has a significant effect on the sensitivity of the SNOM probe, and this should be noted when designing new cantilever probes.     

Nano-optical image and probe in a scanning near-field optical microscope

We study a nanometer-sized optical probe and image in a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM). We demonstrated the potential to observe 5-nm wide optical patterns using the SNOM. The probe profile was measured by using a knife-edge method and a modulated transfer function evaluation method. An aluminum covered and pipet-pulled fiber probe used here has two optical probes, one which has a large diameter of 350 nm and one which has a small diameter of around 10 nm.     

A spherical-wave source based on a probe for a near-field microscope

A new type of a spherical-wave source for precise interferometry based on a fiber probe for a nearfield microscope is proposed. Data on distortions of generated wavefronts are reported. For the optical numerical aperture NA = 0.24, the root-mean-square distortions do not exceed λ/2000.     

Mapping an on-chip terahertz antenna by a scanning near-field probe and a fixed field-effect transistor

In the terahertz(THz) regime,the active region for a solid-state detector usually needs to be implemented accurately in the near-field region of an on-chip antenna.Mapping of the near-field strength could allow for rapid verification and optimization of new antenna/detector designs.Here,we report a proof-of-concept experiment in which the field mapping is realized by a scanning metallic probe and a fixed AlGaN/GaN field-effect transistor.Experiment results agree well with the electromagnetic-wave simulations.The results also suggest a field-effect THz detector combined with a probe tip could serve as a high sensitivity THz near-field sensor.     

Effect of interactive damping on vibration sensitivities of a scanning near-field optical microscope probe

The effect of interactive damping on the sensitivity of flexural and axial vibration modes of scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) with a tapered optical fiber probe has been analyzed. The interaction of the SNOM probe with a sample surface is modeled by a combination of a spring and a dashpot in the flexural direction and a similar combination in the axial direction. An approximate form for the sensitivities of both modes was derived by using the Rayleigh–Ritz method. The results show that the interactive damping will decrease the sensitivities of both flexural and axial vibration modes when the contact stiffness is low. The more the damping effect, the lower the sensitivities are. In addition, when the contact stiffness was low, the flexural sensitivity of the tapered probe slightly increased as the tapered angle decreased. However, the axial sensitivity apparently decreased as the tapered angle decreased. When the contact stiffness became higher, the sensitivities of both flexural and axial vibration modes increased as the tapered angle increased. PACS 68.35.Ja; 07.79.Fc; 61.16.Ch     

A new positioning approach of fiber probe for near-field scanning optical microscope

A fiber probe-based positioning scan approach was established, whose precision can reach as high as 0.8 μm. And a set of modified microscope system was designed utilizing this approach, in which the scanning probe microscope (SPM) combined with an optical microscope was manipulated. The optical microscope and scanning probe can conveniently be switched through a switch panel. The observation period of samples can significantly be shortened. And more reliable images can be provided using this approach. Our design can effectively solve the inherent disadvantages of SPM technology, which makes SPM scan and image more reliably, conveniently, safely and rapidly.     

利用康普顿散射实现太赫兹皮秒脉冲的分析

研究了利用微波与电子束团的康普顿散射实现太赫兹的方法、光子产额和辐射功率。推导出了单个电子产生的太赫兹的光子产额和辐射功率表达式,也推导出了电子束团产生的太赫兹的光子总产额和辐射总功率表达式。结果发现：利用微波与电子束团发生康普顿垂直散射,可以产生太赫兹皮秒脉冲;单个电子产生的太赫兹光子产额与微波功率、微波波长成正比,与微波束截面积成反比;单个电子产生的太赫兹辐射功率与微波功率、电子Lorentz因子的平方成正比,与微波束截面积成反比;电子束团产生的太赫兹光子总产额与微波功率的平方、微波波长的平方成正比,与微波束截面积的平方成反比;电子束团产生的太赫兹辐射总功率与微波功率的平方、微波波长以及电子Lorentz因子的平方成正比,与微波束截面积的平方成反比。     

利用康普顿散射实现太赫兹皮秒脉冲的分析

 研究了利用微波与电子束团的康普顿散射实现太赫兹的方法、光子产额和辐射功率。推导出了单个电子产生的太赫兹的光子产额和辐射功率表达式,也推导出了电子束团产生的太赫兹的光子总产额和辐射总功率表达式。结果发现：利用微波与电子束团发生康普顿垂直散射,可以产生太赫兹皮秒脉冲;单个电子产生的太赫兹光子产额与微波功率、微波波长成正比,与微波束截面积成反比;单个电子产生的太赫兹辐射功率与微波功率、电子Lorentz因子的平方成正比,与微波束截面积成反比;电子束团产生的太赫兹光子总产额与微波功率的平方、微波波长的平方成正比,与微波束截面积的平方成反比;电子束团产生的太赫兹辐射总功率与微波功率的平方、微波波长以及电子Lorentz因子的平方成正比,与微波束截面积的平方成反比。     

Second-harmonic generation in a near-field optical-fiber probe

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) in a near-field optical-fiber probe was observed. The tip of the probe consists of a triple-tapered fiber with an aluminum coating. For a fiber probe with an aperture size of 100 nm, the SHG conversion factor was 2.0 x 10(-11)cm(2)/W , which is as large as that of a 5-mm KDP crystal. In a probe-to-probe experiment, we demonstrated that SHG took place at the aluminum coating on the fiber probe.     

Superlensing approach to a long-focus near-field probe

The present work considers the possibility of constructing a long-focus near-field probe owing to superlensing properties of a metal film at appropriate optical frequencies. Numerical modeling of a simple system of a screened dipole demonstrates the improvement of the field confinement behind the screen, even in comparison with a closer bare dipole. Behavior of the field confinement behind the screen can be considered as near-field focusing and holds great promise in the construction of a remote probe for near-field optics.     

Quadrupole radiation from terahertz dipole antennas

We report what is to our knowledge the first detailed investigation of the polarization state of radiation from lens-coupled terahertz dipole antennas. The radiation exhibits a weak but measurable component that is polarized orthogonally to the orientation of the emitter dipole. The angular radiation pattern of this cross-polarized emission reveals that it is quadrupolar, rather than dipolar, in nature. One can understand this result by taking into account the photocurrent flowing in the strip lines that feed the dipole antenna. A Fresnel-Kirchhoff scalar diffraction calculation is used for calculating the frequency-dependent angular distribution of the radiation pattern, providing satisfactory agreement with the measurements.     

Micromachining of diamond with a near-field scanning optical microscope

Direct-write laser micromachining of diamond on a submicrometer scale with a near-field scanning optical microscope with an uncoated tapered fiber tip has been demonstrated. Micromachined structures can be imaged in situ immediately after modification of the sample. An early stage of the ablation process, which is believed to be conversion of diamond into graphite, has been visualized.     

Multipole analysis of the radiation from near-field optical probes

We experimentally and theoretically analyze the radiation emitted from subwavelength-sized apertures in near-field optical probes. By decomposing the experimentally obtained radiation patterns into vector spherical waves, we describe the fields in terms of a series of multipole sources. We fit polarization-resolved angular intensity distributions, measured as far as 150 degrees from the normal, with dipole, quadrupole, and octupole radiation. We find that the magnetic and the electric dipole components are dominant but that the interference terms between dipoles and higher-order poles are not negligible. This result can be used as the basis for understanding near-field optical interactions and images.     

Field enhancement of optical radiation in the nearfield of scanning probe microscope tips

Received: 8 April 1997/Accepted: 23 June 1997     

Controlling the spectrum of high-power terahertz radiation from a laser-driven plasma wave

Generation of strong THz waves is a very important and difficult research issue. We performed particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation studies to investigate the possibility of powerful THz generation and spectrum controllability by using a laser-driven plasma wave. Our results show that it is possible to produce spectrum-controllable high-power (>1 MV/cm) THz waves by manipulating the plasma density profiles. This method may provide a good way for coherent high-power THz radiation sources, of which the spectrum ranges from a narrow bandwidth to a wide bandwidth.     

Development of scattering near-field optical microspectroscopy apparatus using an infrared synchrotron radiation source

We report the status of a scattering near-field microspectroscopy apparatus developed at SPring-8 using an infrared synchrotron radiation (IR-SR) source. It consists of a scattering type scanning near-field optical microscope and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. The IR-SR is used as a highly brilliant and broad-band IR source. This apparatus has potential for application in near-field spectroscopy with high spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit. In order to eliminate background scatterings from the probe shaft and/or sample surface, we used higher harmonic demodulation method. The near-field spectra were observed by 2nd harmonic components using the lock-in detection. The spatial resolution of about 300 nm was achieved at around 1000 cm^? 1 (10 μm wavelength).     

Hard disk magnetic domain nano-spatial resolution imaging by using a near-field scanning microwave microscope with an AFM probe tip

A near-field scanning microwave microscope (NSMM) incorporating an atomic force microscope (AFM) probe tip was used for the direct imaging of magnetic domains of a hard disk under an external magnetic field. We directly imaged the magnetic domain changes by measuring the change of reflection coefficient S₁₁ of the NSMM at an operating frequency near 4.4 GHz. Comparison was made to the magnetic force microscope (MFM) image. Using the AFM probe tip coupled to the tuning fork distance control system enabled nano-spatial resolution. The NSMM incorporating an AFM tip offers a reliable means for quantitative measurement of magnetic domains with nano-scale resolution and high sensitivity.     

Femtosecond terahertz radiation from femtoslicing at BESSY

Femtosecond far-infrared radiation pulses in the THz spectral range were observed as a consequence of the energy modulation of 1.7 GeV electrons by femtosecond laser pulses in the BESSY storage ring in order to generate femtosecond x-ray pulses ("femtoslicing"). In addition to being crucial for diagnostics of the laser-electron interaction, the THz radiation itself is useful for experiments where intense ultrashort THz pulses of well-defined temporal and spectral characteristics are required.