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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: C. Martijn de Sterke
  • Vol. 15, Iss. 5 — Mar. 5, 2007
  • pp: 2468–2475

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 15 > Issue 5 > Page 2468

A fractal-based fibre for ultra-high throughput optical probes

S. T. Huntington, B. C. Gibson, J. Canning, K. Digweed-Lyytikäinen, J. D. Love, and V. Steblina  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 15, Issue 5, pp. 2468-2475 (2007)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.15.002468


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Abstract

A core component of all scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) systems is the optical probe, which has evolved greatly but still represents the limiting component for the system. Here, we introduce a new type of optical probe, based on a Fractal Fibre which is a special class of photonic crystal fibre (PCF), to directly address the issue of increasing the optical throughput in SNOM probes. Optical measurements through the Fractal Fibre probes have shown superior power levels to that of conventional SNOM probes. The results presented in this paper suggest that a novel fibre design is critical in order to maximize the potential of the SNOM.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

OCIS Codes
(060.2270) Fiber optics and optical communications : Fiber characterization
(060.2310) Fiber optics and optical communications : Fiber optics
(060.2350) Fiber optics and optical communications : Fiber optics imaging
(120.4610) Instrumentation, measurement, and metrology : Optical fabrication
(180.5810) Microscopy : Scanning microscopy

ToC Category:
Microscopy

History
Original Manuscript: December 19, 2006
Manuscript Accepted: February 18, 2007
Published: March 5, 2007

Virtual Issues
Vol. 2, Iss. 4 Virtual Journal for Biomedical Optics

Citation
S. T. Huntington, B. C. Gibson, J. Canning, K. Digweed-Lyytikäinen, J. D. Love, and V. Steblina, "A fractal-based fibre for ultra-high throughput optical probes," Opt. Express 15, 2468-2475 (2007)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-15-5-2468


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