High-resolution imaging of single fluorescent molecules with the optical near-field of a metal tip

We show that a concentration of light at a metal tip allows near-field optical imaging of single fluorescent dye molecules at very high resolution, despite strong quenching effects. Details as small as 10 nm were observed in the fluorescence patterns of single Cy-3 dyes bound to the termini of DNA. Data evaluation by model fitting determines the positions of the dyes to an accuracy even better than 1 nm and also yields their 3D orientation. The metal tip simultaneously provides high-resolution topographic imaging complementing the optical signal for a detailed surface examination.     

Faraday-rotation imaging by near-field optical microscopy

Scanning near-field optical microscopy with polarization modulation (PM-SNOM) has been applied to image the surface of a yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) film. Lock-in detection of the phase of the transmitted light directly gives the magnitude of the Faraday rotation angle.     

Cloaked near-field scanning optical microscope tip for noninvasive near-field imaging

Near-field imaging is a well-established technique in biomedical measurements, since closer to the detail of interest it is possible to resolve subwavelength details otherwise unresolved by regular lenses. A near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) tip may indeed overcome the resolution limits of far-field optics, but its proximity inherently perturbs the measurement. Here, we apply the recent concept of a "cloaked sensor" to an NSOM device in collection mode, showing theoretically how a proper plasmonic cover applied to an NSOM tip may drastically improve its overall measurement capabilities.     

Quantum Hall ferrimagnetism in lateral quantum dot molecules

We demonstrate the existence of ferrimagnetic and ferromagnetic phases in a spin phase diagram of coupled lateral quantum dot molecules in the quantum Hall regime. The spin phase diagram is determined from the Hartree-Fock configuration interaction method as a function of electron number N and magnetic field B. The quantum Hall ferrimagnetic phase corresponds to spatially imbalanced spin droplets resulting from strong interdot coupling of identical dots. The quantum Hall ferromagnetic phases correspond to ferromagnetic coupling of spin polarization at filling factors between nu=2 and nu=1.     

基于半导体纳米线/锥形微光纤探针的被动式近场光学扫描成像

本文结合近场扫描结构和纳米线-微光纤耦合技术,提出了一种基于硫化镉纳米线/锥形微光纤探针结构的被动近场光学扫描成像系统.该系统采用被动式纳米探针,保留了纳米探针对样品表面反射光的强约束优势.其理论收集效率为4.65‰,相比于传统的金属镀膜近场探针收集效率提高了一个数量级,可有效地提高扫描探针对样品形貌信息的检测能力;而后通过硫化镉纳米线与微光纤之间高效的倏逝场耦合,将检测的光强信号传输到远场进行光电探测,最终实现对目标样品形貌的分析成像,其样品宽度测量误差在7.28%以内.该系统不需要外部激发光路,利用显微镜自身光源进行远场照明,被动扫描探针仅作为样品表面反射光的被动收集系统.本文基于半导体纳米线/锥形微光纤探针的被动式近场光学扫描成像方案,可有效地降低探针的制备难度和目标光场的检测难度,简化扫描成像的结构,为近场光学扫描显微系统之后的发展提供新的思路.     

基于半导体纳米线/锥形微光纤探针的被动式近场光学扫描成像

本文结合近场扫描结构和纳米线-微光纤耦合技术,提出了一种基于硫化镉纳米线/锥形微光纤探针结构的被动近场光学扫描成像系统.该系统采用被动式纳米探针,保留了纳米探针对样品表面反射光的强约束优势.其理论收集效率为4.65‰,相比于传统的金属镀膜近场探针收集效率提高了一个数量级,可有效地提高扫描探针对样品形貌信息的检测能力;而后通过硫化镉纳米线与微光纤之间高效的倏逝场耦合,将检测的光强信号传输到远场进行光电探测,最终实现对目标样品形貌的分析成像,其样品宽度测量误差在7.28%以内.该系统不需要外部激发光路,利用显微镜自身光源进行远场照明,被动扫描探针仅作为样品表面反射光的被动收集系统.本文基于半导体纳米线/锥形微光纤探针的被动式近场光学扫描成像方案,可有效地降低探针的制备难度和目标光场的检测难度,简化扫描成像的结构,为近场光学扫描显微系统之后的发展提供新的思路.     

Optical pulsation mechanism based on optical near-field interactions

We theoretically demonstrate optical pulsation based on optical near-field interactions between quantum nanostructures. It is composed of two quantum dot systems, each of which consists of a combination of smaller and larger quantum dots, so that optical excitation transfer occurs. With an architecture in which the two systems take the role of a timing delay and frequency up-conversion, we observe pulsation in populations pumped by continuous-wave light irradiation. The pulsation is induced with suitable setting of parameters associated with the optical near-field interactions. This will provide critical insights toward the design and implementation of experimental nanophotonic pulse generating devices.     

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.     

THz near-field optical imaging by a local source

A new THz imaging system based on a local illumination by a near-field source is presented. Model object is imaged, and sub-wavelength spatial resolution is demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge with this configuration. The contrast and the resolution are confirmed by a theoretical study based on the diffraction in near-field zone.     

Tamper resistance in optical excitation transfer based on optical near-field interactions

We present tamper resistance in optical excitation transfer via optical near-field interactions based on the energy dissipation process occurring locally in nanometric devices such as quantum dots. A theoretical comparison with electrical systems is also shown, focusing on the required environmental conditions. Numerical simulations based on virtual photon models demonstrate high tamper resistance.     

Apparent superresolution in near-field optical imaging of periodic gratings

A superresolution phenomenon in images of diffraction gratings obtained with a near-field optical microscope probe positioned at distances of the order of 1>mu;m from the surface was recently reported [Appl. Opt. 33, 876 (1994)]. This experiment was interpreted in terms of evanescent waves observed in the far field. We show that the effect observed in that experiment is a very well known far-field optical phenomenon called the Talbot effect. The existence of self-imaging Talbot planes for gratings with periods of the order of a few micrometers appears promising for many practical applications.     

Direct observation of optical excitation transfer based on resonant optical near-field interaction

This article reports the direct observation of long-distance optical excitation transfer based on resonant optical near-field interactions in randomly distributed quantum dots (QDs). We fabricated optical excitation transfer paths based on randomly distributed QDs by using CdSe/ZnS core?Cshell QDs and succeeded for the first time in obtaining output signals resulting from a unidirectional optical excitation transfer length of 2.4???m. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the optical excitation transfer occurs via the resonant excited levels of the QDs with a comparative experiment using non-resonant QDs. This excitation-transfer mechanism allows for intersecting, non-interacting nano-optical wires.     

Essential concepts in the optical properties of quantum dot molecules

Here we review the basic optical spectra of quantum dot molecules. We apply a simple and straightforward model to calculate charge stability regions in vertically coupled double dot molecules that are embedded in a Schottky diode. This model allows us to relate features in the optical spectrum to the diode structure. The underlying concepts allow one to design quantum dot molecules functionalized for optical operations.     

An optical near-field microscope based on optical dimensional resonances of interacting atoms

A concept was suggested for an optical near-field microscope based on optical dimensional resonances in the system of a needle tip atom + a sample atom. High sensitivity and spatial resolution of an order of 1 nm were shown to be characteristic of this microscope. Furthermore, the instrument is applicable to a wide range of studied samples.     

Quantum controlled-NOT gate based on a single quantum dot

A realization of a quantum controlled-NOT gate based on a single quantum dot is proposed. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 3, 219–224 (10 August 1996)     

Scanning near-field optical coherent spectroscopy of single molecules at 1.4 K

We present scanning near-field extinction spectra of single molecules embedded in a solid matrix. By varying the tip-molecule separation, we modify the line shape of the spectra, demonstrating the coherent nature of the interaction between the incident laser light and the excited state of the molecule. We compare the measured data with the outcome of numerical calculations and find a very good agreement.     

基于纳米孔径激光器的近场光存储的最新发展

近几年发展起来的近场光学原理和方法为实现超高密度光学数据存储开辟了新的技术途径。基于近扬光学方法的最小信息记录单元尺寸突破了经典光学分辨率的衍射极限 ,理论存储密度高达 1 0 0 0Gb/平方英寸 ,受到了研究人员和工业界的广泛关注。着重介绍了用于近场光学存储的纳米孔径激光器的原理、结构、优点 ,对它的实现方法和发展状况作了详细的阐述 ,并对其在近场光存储领域未来的发展趋势进行了展望     

Three-dimensional modeling of amplitude-object imaging in scanning near-field optical microscopy

The imaging properties of the transmission-illumination mode of a scanning near-field optical microscope are investigated. Three-dimensional calculations of the power transmitted into classically allowed and forbidden regions for a nonsymmetrically positioned amplitude object are implemented by use of the finite-difference time-domain solution of Maxwell's equations. The evolution of the images with the distance from the object as well as the effect of the polarization of the illumination is shown. The computations show that for applications involving the imaging of an amplitude object, the use of the allowed light is preferred. Collection of light from both the allowed and the forbidden zones leads to degraded contrast and resolution.     

基于改进U-Net的量子点STM图像分割

为提升量子点图像分割精度,降低特征识别误差,提出一种基于改进U-Net的量子点图像分割方法.首先,在预处理阶段,设计了以色彩通道为权值的灰度化算法,以提升后续分割效果.其次,在STM图像分割部分,在原始U-Net结构上引入中间过渡层以均衡网络各层特征.而后,建立数据集,并通过实验对比不同分割算法的精确度、召回率、F-measure.最后,将分割算法应用于量子点的特征识别,并测试了不同分割方式对应用的影响.实验结果显示,改进灰度化方法保留细节信息丰富,明显提升了量子点分割精度;改进U-Net的平均精确率、召回率、F-measure相较原始网络分别提升了13.83%、2.16%、8.13%.同时,实验数据表明由于分割精度的提升,量子点数量、纵横比等特征参数的识别更加精确.