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Summary We investigate the ability of the bow-tie slot antenna to generate intense optical spots below the diffraction limit. A commercially available finite-difference time-domain electromagnetic modelling software is used in the numerical simulations. The finite-difference time-domain software is first compared to analytical results at optical frequencies to verify its accuracy. We then present numerical simulations for various geometries involving apertures on thin films and the bow-tie antenna. The transmission efficiency and optical spot size of the bow-tie antenna are compared with those of rectangular and circular apertures on thin metal films. We also investigate the effects of material composition, frequency, and antenna geometry on the near-field radiation pattern using numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The optical wave behaviour around a subwavelength aperture in a thick metallic screen is examined through three-dimensional computer simulation. Treating the metallic screen as a dielectric slab with complex-valued permittivity, it is possible to design an aperture that simultaneously provides high intensity and small spot size through the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons on the side walls of the aperture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility to optically image the very fine pit structure formed by electron beam (EB) writing has been researched using scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). Fine test pit samples were formed in an electron resist (ZEP520) with a minimum pit size of 30 nm×160 nm. From experimental results using the pits, a conventional reflection SNOM could not image fine pit structures with a size of less than 100 nm. The technique was improved by coating the metal film on the optical probe and adopting an optical depolarization technique in the SNOM optics efficiently to detect near-field light reflected from the sample surface. We demonstrated that very fine pits with a minimum size of 30 nm were imaged and discussed that reflection type depolarization SNOM has a potential to achieve an ultrahigh density optical reading with 1.2 Tb/in.2, which is limited by EB fabrication of the pits. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary We report the experimental realization of key elements of a two-dimensional optics based on surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Local SPP sources, Bragg mirrors and beamsplitters were lithographically built from silver nanostructures. The SPP fields were imaged by detecting the fluorescence of molecules that act as local probes of the SPP near-field intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The fluorescence lifetime and the fluorescence rate of single molecules are recorded as a function of the position of a Si3 N4 atomic force microscopy tip with respect to the molecule. We observe a decrease of the excited state lifetime and the fluorescence rate when the tip apex is in close proximity to the molecule. These effects are attributed to the fact that the dielectric tip converts non-propagating near-fields to propagating fields within the dielectric tip effectively quenching the fluorescence. The spatial extension of the quenching area is of subwavelength dimensions. The results are discussed in terms of molecular fluorescence in a system of stratified media. The experiment provides surprising new insights into the interactions between a fluorescent molecule and a dielectric tip. The methodology holds promise for applications in ultra high-resolution near-field optical imaging at the level of single fluorophores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Scanning near-field optical microscopy images of metal nanostructures taken with the tetrahedral tip (T-tip) show a distribution of dark and bright spots at distances in the order of 25–50 nm. The images are interpreted as photonic nanopatterns defined as calculated scanning near-field optical microscopy images using a dipole serving as a light-emitting scanning near-field optical microscopy probe. Changing from a positive to a negative value of the dielectric function of a sample leads to the partition of one spot into several spots in the photonic nanopatterns, indicating the excitation of surface plasmons of a wavelength in the order of 50–100 nm in metal nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a simulation code for a two-dimensional photon scanning tunneling microscope (PSTM) is created by using the boundary element method based on the guided-mode extracted integral equation. Imaging simulation is carried out for the cases of a dielectric probe or a metal-coated probe and observation objects that are multiple dielectrics or metals. In the simulation, the transmission coefficient of the guided mode in a collection mode probe with an incident TE wave (s polarization) and the reflection coefficient of the illumination mode for the incident fundamental TE mode are derived. By a probe scan, the relationship between the output image and the observation object is studied. It is shown that the output image contrast decreases and the effect of interference pattern increases with a metal-coated aperture probe, whereas the image characteristics on the output image are improved relative to those obtained with a dielectric probe. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 85(10): 7–16, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScienc (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.10050 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report spatially and time-resolved measurements of ultrafast carrier dynamics around buried nano-scale Schottky contacts, performed with a novel femtosecond near-field scanning optical microscope. The experimental results are modeled by a self-consistent treatment of the drift–diffusion equation for the carriers and Poisson’s equation for the built-in electric field. We show that the built-in field suppresses electron transport towards and trapping into the metal particles at lower optically excited carrier densities. In contrast, efficient electron trapping into the metal occurs at higher electron densities, which screen the built-in field, allowing for efficient transport of electrons towards the Schottky contact. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The submicron domain structure of coexisting liquid condensed (LC) and liquid expanded (LE) phases in monolayers composed of palmitic acid and 20 wt% of a lung surfactant protein B fragment has been investigated. Near-field microscopy was used to simultaneously measure topography and fluorescence images of monolayers that were prepared at a surface pressure of 15 mN/m and a temperature of 22°C. The use of a fluorescently tagged peptide allowed for unambiguous determination of the peptide location in the two-component system. The LC and LE phases in the monolayers are measured on the submicron length scale. A 6–11 A˚ height difference between the LC and LE phases was evident in the height images. Gradual transitions between the LC and LE domains were observed across a 1.3 μm length scale in the near-field fluorescence images, but were significantly sharper in the simultaneously collected topography images and in the separately measured AFM images. These results may reflect the occurrence of peptide encroachment into the LC domains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The characteristics of electromagnetic waves in a narrowing waveguide are investigated. A method for field analysis is developed based on the application of transverse modes parametrically dependent on the longitudinal coordinate. For a circular cross section waveguide, a system of equations for the wave amplitudes is obtained, the waves being coupled owing to a variable tilt of the walls. It is shown that in the adiabatic approximation, there exist independent eigenwaves whose structure reflects the field energy density variation due to the waveguide radius variation. A detailed analytical and numerical investigation of these fields has been carried out for a waveguide with a special profile of “hypergeometric” type. The applicability of the adiabatic approximation is studied and conversion of the fundamental mode into higher-order modes is assessed. The amplitudes of the higher-order modes are obtained using the Green function for ordinary differential equations. The region of the waveguide parameters is found where the higher-order mode amplitudes are not great and the adiabatic approximation is highly accurate. The dependence of the transmittance of a semi-infinite waveguide on the input radiation characteristics is obtained. It is established that the field amplitudes at the waveguide output strongly depend on the wavelength of the input radiation, on its transverse structure, and the waveguide profile steepness. The greatest output fields take place in the case of an abrupt dependence of the waveguide radius on the longitudinal coordinate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss a detailed near-field spectroscopic study of the nanoscopic optical properties of a novel coupled wire-dot nanostructure grown on (311)A GaAs substrates. Photoluminescence spectra recorded with 150 nm spatial and 100 μeV spectral resolution permit mapping of two-dimensional variations of the lateral confinement potential and give direct information about growth dynamics. The absence of potential energy barriers between wire and dot makes these dots interesting optical markers for exciton diffusion via quantum well and wire states. The experiments indictate that exciton localization limits both the quasi-two and quasi-one-dimensional mobilities at low temperatures. The statistical parameters of the disorder potential underlying exciton localization, namely its correlation length and disorder amplitude are extracted by means of a novel statistical analysis of the two-energy autocorrelation function of ensembles of near-field PL spectra. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The paper is concerned with electromagnetic wave propagation in a perturbed periodic structure. Consider a time-harmonic electromagnetic plane wave incident on a biperiodic (grating) structure. A single inhomogeneous object is placed inside the biperiodic structure. The scattering problem is to study the electromagnetic field distributions. The problem arises in the study of near-field optics and has recently found many applications in physics and biology. In this paper, an integral representation approach is presented to solve the problem. Using the approach, well-posedness of the model problem is established. In addition, it is shown that the perturbation due to the object is exponentially decaying along the periodic directions of the structure, provided that no surface waves occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present direct measurements of the ultrafast carrier dynamics around buried nano-scale Schottky contacts with high spatial and time resolution, performed with a novel femtosecond near-field scanning optical microscope. It is shown that high optically excited carrier densities screen the built-in field around a Schottky contact and allow for efficient transport of electrons towards the contact, followed by trapping of electrons into the metal. The experimental results are modeled by a self-consistent treatment of the drift-diffusion equation for the carriers and Poisson''s equation for the built-in electric field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary We study the influence of metal roughness on the near-field distribution generated by an aperture or an apertureless (scattering) probe. Different experimental parameters are investigated: roughness magnitude, aperture form, distribution of the roughness. Our results show that aluminium roughness has a dramatic impact on the emission characteristics of a near-field probe and in particular on its polarization sensitivity. Apertureless or scattering probes appear to be less sensitive to roughness and to provide a well confined field even with a somewhat rough probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consider a time-harmonic electromagnetic plane wave incident on a periodic (grating) structure. An inhomogeneous (subwavelength) object is placed inside the periodic structure. The scattering problem is to study the electromagnetic field distributions. The problem arises in the study of near-field optics and has many physical and biological applications. This work is devoted to modeling and analysis of a near-field optics problem. An integral representation approach is presented to solve the problem. It is shown particularly that the perturbation due to the object decays exponentially along the periodic direction of the structure, provided that no surface waves occur. Based on the approach, a general solution method is discussed and the well-posedness of the model problems are established. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To create and utilize a strong light source with sub-wavelength size has opened up a new frontier in optics, the near-field optics. One of the most attractive applications of the near-field optics is near-field optical data storage. The optical memory with high density and high data transfer rate is highly demanded to utilize an array of high throughput nano-scaled light sources for writing and reading bits on a medium. In this paper, we propose a hybrid structure of vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and aperture array for optical near-field memory head, namely VCSEL/NSOM. A technological solution for fabrication of the aperture array with Si micromachining technology is presented. An investigation of the optical performance of the near-field light at the apertures of the Si micromachined aperture array is presented. The primary result of writing and reading bits on a phase change (PC) medium using the fabricated structure is demonstrated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Excitons in two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted the attention of the community to develop improved photoelectronic devices. Previous reports are based on direct excitation where the out-of-plane illumination projects a uniform single-mode light spot. However, because of the optical diffraction limit, the minimal spot size is a few micrometers, inhibiting the precise manipulation and control of excitons at the nanoscale level. Herein, we introduced the in-plane coherent surface plasmonic interference (SPI) field to excite and modulate excitons remotely. Compared to the out-of-plane light, a uniform in-plane SPI suggests a more compact spatial volume and an abundance of mode selections for a single or an array of device modulation. Our results not only build up a fundamental platform for operating and encoding the exciton states at the nanoscale level but also provide a new avenue toward all-optical integrated valleytronic chips for future quantum computation and information applications.

A new technique, optical near-field photochemical vapour deposition (NFO-PCVD) enables maskless production of nanometric structures with controllable size, chemical composition and morphology. By placing a near-field optical microscope inside the reaction chamber for photochemical vapour deposition we have deposited nanoscale metal patterns. We demonstrate for the first time, successfully deposited in the near-field region, lines of metallic zinc with the observed stripe width of 20 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of fluorescence excitation in the scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) is considered as a dipole–dipole resonance energy transfer process between a molecule under study and a SNOM aperture, which can be treated as a magnetic-type point dipole. It is shown that such an approach satisfactorily describes the conditions of the usual SNOM fluorescence experiments. Fluorescence excitation dependence on the polarization of the incident light and medium refraction index have been obtained. The equation to calculate the resonance dipole–dipole energy transfer radius (which is a natural unit of a SNOM's longitudinal resolution) is derived. Those cases where such a radius is of the order of the SNOM aperture, and thus single dipole, can strongly influence the radiation conditions are discussed briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We imaged magnetic domains in Pt/Co/Pt multilayers using an apertureless scanning near-field optical microscope operating in reflection mode. As the magneto-optical effects are weak for this kind of structure, a polarization modulation technique with a photoelastic modulator was used to reveal the contrast between magnetic domains. In the case of a Pt/Co/Pt trilayer structure, a strong improvement in lateral resolution is observed compared with far-field magneto-optical images and good sensitivity is achieved. In the case of a Pt/[Co/Pt]Pt multilayer structure, stripe domains of 200 nm width could be resolved, in good agreement with images obtained by magnetic force microscopy on the same structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from the general principles of near-field optical microscopy, I consider the influence of a probe when being used to image localized dipolar excitations and suggest a way of evaluating the perturbation thus introduced. Using the rigorous microscopic (electric) point–dipole description, I calculate the self-consistent field intensity at the site of a probe dipole scanning over resonantly interacting object dipoles and show that the intensity distribution deviates from that existing in the absence of a probe. I demonstrate that this difference increases with an increase in the polarizability of the probe dipole, resulting eventually in a completely different intensity distribution. The calculations also show that the perturbation of the intensity distribution due to the presence of a probe decreases with an increase in the probe–sample distance. In order to evaluate the degree of perturbation, I suggest comparing the images obtained at different probe–sample distances. Finally, I formulate a simple rule of thumb that allows one to roughly estimate the probe–sample coupling when imaging localized excitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using cross-hatched, patterned semiconductor surfaces and round 20-nm-thick gold pads on semiconductor wafers, we investigate the imaging characteristics of a reflection near-field optical microscope with an uncoated fibre tip for different polarization configurations and light wavelengths. It is shown that cross-polarized detection allows one to effectively suppress far-field components in the detected signal and to realize imaging of optical contrast on the sub-wavelength scale. The sensitivity window of our microscope, i.e. the scale on which near-field optical images represent mainly optical contrast, is found to be ≈100 nm for light wavelengths in the visible region. We demonstrate imaging of near-field components of a dipole field and purely dielectric contrast (related to well-width fluctuations in a semiconductor quantum well) with a spatial resolution of ≈100 nm. The results obtained show that such a near-field technique can be used for polarization-sensitive imaging with reasonably high spatial resolution and suggest a number of applications for this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We solve numerically the three-dimensional vector form of Maxwell's equation for the situation of near-field excitation and collection of luminescence from a single quantum dot, using a scanning near-field optical fibre probe with sub-wavelength resolution. We highlight the importance of polarization-dependent effects in both the near-field excitation and collection processes. Applying a finite-difference time domain method, we calculate the complete vector fields emerging from a realistic probe structure which is in close proximity to a semiconductor surface. We model the photoluminescence from the quantum dot in terms of electric dipoles of different polarization directions, and determine the near-field luminescence images of the dot captured by the same probe. We show that a collimating effect in the high index semiconductor significantly improves the spatial resolution in the excitation–collection mode. We find that the spatial resolution, image shape and collection efficiency of near-field luminescence imaging strongly depend on the polarization direction as represented by the orientation of the radiating electric dipoles inside the quantum dot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel etching method for an optical fibre probe of a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) was developed to fabricate a variety of tip shapes through dynamic movement during etching. By moving the fibre in two-phase fluids of HF solution and organic solvent, the taper length and angle can be varied according to the movement of the position of the meniscus on the optical fibre. This method produces both long (sharp angle) and short (wide angle) tapered tips compared to tips made with stationary etching processes. A bent-type probe for a SNOM/AFM was fabricated by applying this technique and its throughput efficiency was examined. A wide-angle probe with a 50° angle at the tip showed a throughput efficiency of 3.3 × 10-4 at a resolution of 100 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffracted fields from 100-nm aperture near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) probes and uncoated tapered fibres are measured and analysed. Using a solid angle scanner, the two-dimensional intensity distribution and polarization state of the diffracted light are resolved experimentally. Polarization analyses show that circularly polarized input light does not maintain its polarization state for all diffraction angles, and is completely filtered into linearly polarized light at large polar diffraction angles. This drastic decomposition originates from the vector nature of light diffracted by the sub-wavelength aperture. There is a fundamental difficulty in generating circularly polarized light near the aperture of NSOM probes owing to polarization-dependent diffraction in the near-field regime. This is illustrated by the Bethe-Bouwkamp model using circularly polarized input light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the combination of a scanning near-field optical microscope and a modified Sagnac interferometer for magnetic-domain imaging in the reflection mode. The Sagnac interferometer is used for detection of the magneto-optical Kerr effect. Since the interferometer is inherently insensitive to polarization changes caused by topography effects, magnetic-domain imaging is not limited to samples with flat surfaces. In this way, it is possible to image magnetic bits written on the tracks of a magneto-optical disc that has a rather pronounced surface profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photon scanning tunnelling microscope is a well-established member of the family of scanning near-field optical microscopes used for optical imaging at the sub-wavelength scale. The quality of the probes, typically pointed uncoated optical fibres, used is however, difficult to evaluate in a direct manner and has most often been inferred from the apparent quality of recorded optical images. Complicated near-field optical imaging characteristics, together with the possibility of topographically induced artefacts, however, has increased demands for a more reliable probe characterization technique. Here we present experimental results obtained for optical characterization of two different probes by imaging of a well-specified near-field intensity distribution at various spatial frequencies. In particular, we observe that a sharply pointed dielectric probe can be highly suitable for imaging when using p-polarized light for the illumination. We conclude that the proposed scheme can be used directly for probe characterization and, subsequently, for determination of an optical transfer function, which would allow one to deduce from an experimentally obtained image of a weakly scattering sample the field distribution existing near the sample surface in the absence of the probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed an instrument for optically measuring carrier dynamics in thin-film materials with ≈150 nm lateral resolution, ≈250 fs temporal resolution and high sensitivity. This is accomplished by combining an ultrafast pump–probe laser spectroscopic technique with a near-field scanning optical microscope. A diffraction-limited pump and near-field probe configuration is used, with a novel detection system that allows for either two-colour or degenerate pump and probe photon energies, permitting greater measurement flexibility than that reported in earlier published work. The capabilities of this instrument are proven through near-field degenerate pump–probe studies of carrier dynamics in GaAs/AlGaAs single quantum well samples locally patterned by focused ion beam (FIB) implantation. We find that lateral carrier diffusion across the nanometre-scale FIB pattern plays a significant role in the decay of the excited carriers within ≈1 μm of the implanted stripes, an effect which could not have been resolved with a far-field system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonoptical detection of the optical fibre tip has been developed. By detecting the output signal from a tiny piezoelectric detector attached to the vibrating fibre tip, the distance between the fibre tip and the sample has been successfully controlled. The frequency responses of the system composed of tip, the dither and the detector have been studied. The difference between the shear-force detection and the tapping-mode detection is discussed. It is found that the shear force exerted on the tip reduces the vibration amplitude with an unvaried resonance frequency. However, in the tapping mode, the resonance frequency varies with the tip–sample distance as the force is exerted on the fibre tip only within a half period. This requires better adjustments for the tapping-mode detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic force distance control for scanning near-field optical microscopy on the basis of a tuning fork as piezoelectric force sensor is remarkably sensitive. In order to gain a better understanding of this sensitivity the vibrational properties of the tuning fork are modelled within the framework of two coupled harmonic oscillators. As a result, the effective force constant of the tuning fork at resonance frequency is determined. Furthermore, the influence of the additional mass by the attachment of the near-field probe is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a high-resolution near-field optical tool designed for repair of opaque defects in binary photomasks. Both instrument design and near-field imaging and patterning results will be presented. Designed for ablative processing of thin metal films, the MR-100 incorporates an industrial amplified femtosecond laser, third harmonic generator and built-in autocorrelator. The ultrashort duration of the femtosecond pulses enables the tool to remove chrome layers with negligible damage to the surrounding metal or the underlying quartz substrate. The micropipette based near-field writing head can deliver power densities of hundreds of GW/cm2 to spots of several hundred nanometres and below. Repairs on sample masks will be presented and the repair quality will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the state of polarization and near-field intensity distribution in the vicinity of rectangular groove objects ruled on metallic and dielectric materials. The sample is illuminated from the vacuum side by a linear combination of p- and s-polarised waves. Two rigorous methods of solution are used and compared in calculations of the total intensity at constant height when the light is incident normally onto the surface. Some calculations of the total intensity in the ‘follow-the-profile mode’ are also presented. It is shown that in the constant height mode, the contrast in the image can be reversed as the plane of observation moves away from the mean plane of the sample. We also found that the state of polarization depends strongly on the material and the distance to the plane of detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present three-dimensional simulations of the image formation process in near-field optical microscopy. Our calculations take into account the different components of a realistic experiment: an extended metal coated tip, a subwavelength sample and its substrate. We investigate all possible detection (transmitted, reflected and collected field) and scanning (constant height, constant gap) modes. Our results emphasize the strong influence of the tip motion on the experimental signal. They also show that it is possible, by controlling the polarization of both the illumination and the detected field, to strongly reduce these artefacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resolution in near-field images is currently determined by the visual inspection of recorded images. One of the major questions in near-field optical microscopy is ‘what resolution can be reached, the tip-to-sample distance being known?’ This knowledge is critical when choosing the scanning step and the distance between the tip and the sample, in a preliminary scan. This preliminary scan is often the only way to detect the interesting parts of the sample, with limited risk of tip crash and topographical artefacts. The method proposed here needs two scans of the same area, of the same sample, in constant height mode, recorded at two tip-to-sample distances. The pseudo-transfer function is the ratio of the Fourier transform of these two data maps. This function enables the evaluation of the limit of resolution. Theoretical considerations are introduced to assess the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a simple calculation of near-field magneto-optical (MO) images based on the beam propagation method. We calculate both Faraday rotation and circular dichroism contrasts of planar magnetic structures such as as-grown thin films and ion-irradiated samples. High-contrast near-field MO images are obtained, in good agreement with our experimental observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]