Abstract

Apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy has been used to image fluorescent latex spheres with a resolution of a few tens of nanometers and good signal-to-noise ratio. The near-field fluorescence images reveal optical interference with several highly contrasted fringes located around the spheres. The origin of the interference is discussed in detail, and models are used to explain their formation. Spatial coherence is also discussed.

© 2003 Optical Society of America

Apertureless near-field optical microscopy: influence of the illumination conditions on the image contrast

Pierre-Michel Adam, Pascal Royer, Reda Laddada, and Jean-Louis Bijeon
Appl. Opt. 37(10) 1814-1819 (1998)

Analysis of the interferometric effect of the background light in apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy

Sébastien Aubert, Aurélien Bruyant, Sylvain Blaize, Renaud Bachelot, Gilles Lerondel, Sylvain Hudlet, and Pascal Royer
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 20(10) 2117-2124 (2003)

Fluorescence imaging of submicrometric lattices of colour centres in LiF by an apertureless scanning near-field optical microscope

P.M. Adam, S. Benrezzak, J.L. Bijeon, P. Royer, S. Guy, B. Jacquier, P. Moretti, R.M. Montereali, M. Piccinini, F. Menchini, F. Somma, C. Seassal, and H. Rigneault
Opt. Express 9(7) 353-359 (2001)

Reflection-mode scanning near-field optical microscopy using an apertureless metallic tip

R. Bachelot, P. Gleyzes, and A. C. Boccara
Appl. Opt. 36(10) 2160-2170 (1997)

Apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy: a comparison between homodyne and heterodyne approaches

Lewis Gomez, Renaud Bachelot, Alexandre Bouhelier, Gary P. Wiederrecht, Shih-hui Chang, Stephen K. Gray, Feng Hua, Seokwoo Jeon, John A. Rogers, Miguel E. Castro, Sylvain Blaize, Ilan Stefanon, Gilles Lerondel, and Pascal Royer
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 23(5) 823-833 (2006)