Abstract

The simultaneous operation of near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) in reflection and transmission modes is demonstrated. In the transmission mode, a low-noise, large-area silicon photodetector was mounted between the piezoelectric transducer scanning stage and the sample. In the reflection mode, either a photomultiplier tube or two large-area silicon detectors was used for signal collection. The reflection-mode setup consisting of two silicon detectors provides a large numerical aperture of 0.9 as well as symmetrical detection of emitting photons. The dielectric thin films and the light-emitting polymers were used to demonstrate the capability of these two modes of NSOM. A comparison between these two different setups is also presented.

© 1996 Optical Society of America

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