Neil Anderson et al 2006 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 8 S227 doi:10.1088/1464-4258/8/4/S24
Neil Anderson1, Alexandre Bouhelier2 and Lukas Novotny1,3
Show affiliationsAny detailed study of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with nanoscale systems is limited by diffraction effects in classical optical systems. Near-field microscopy extends conventional imaging beyond this self-imposed barrier and is used to perform microscopy and spectroscopy with ultra-high spatial resolution. In this article we will discuss the use of the enhanced electric field created at the apex of a sharp laser-irradiated metal tip as a means of producing a truly nanoscale light source. This confined light source can be used to excite locally vibrational modes along carbon nanotubes or to investigate surface charge oscillations in optically resonant nanoparticles. We report the use of such a technique to demonstrate localized photofluorescence and Raman imaging with sub 20 nm spatial resolution.
07.60.Pb Conventional optical microscopes
42.30.Va Image forming and processing
07.57.Ty Infrared spectrometers, auxiliary equipment, and techniques
Instrumentation and measurement
Issue 4 (April 2006)
Received 28 July 2005, accepted for publication 23 September 2005
Published 24 March 2006
Neil Anderson et al 2006 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 8 S227
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