The coaxial tip as a nano-antenna for scanning near-field microwave transmission microscopy

A novel scanning-probe setup is reported that maps the complex transmission of microwaves. Response to topographic features as small as 15 nm was observed. The sharpened coaxial probe tip serves as a microwave antenna and, at the same time, as a tunnel tip to warrant precise distance control by STM (scanning tunneling microscope) feedback. The instrument can be applied to map the microwave conductivity of, e.g. thin films or low-dimensional semiconductors. Consequences for the development of an infrared microscope are outlined.