Phase is one of the most important parameters of electromagnetic waves. It is the phase distribution that determines the propagation, reflection, refraction, focusing, divergence, and coupling features of light, and f...Phase is one of the most important parameters of electromagnetic waves. It is the phase distribution that determines the propagation, reflection, refraction, focusing, divergence, and coupling features of light, and further affects the intensity distribution. In recent years, the designs of surface plasmon polariton （SPP） devices have mostly been based on the phase modulation and manipulation. Here we demonstrate a phase sensitive multi-parameter heterodyne scanning near-field opti- cal microscope （SNOM） with an aperture probe in the visible range, with which the near field optical phase and amplitude distributions can be simultaneously obtained. A novel architecture combining a spatial optical path and a fiber optical path is employed for stability and flexibility. Two kinds of typical nano-photonic devices are tested with the system. With the phase-sensitive SNOM, the phase and amplitude distributions of any nano-optical field and localized field generated with any SPP nano-structures and irregular phase modulation surfaces can be investigated. The phase distribution and the interference pattern will help us to gain a better understanding of how light interacts with SPP structures and how SPP waves generate, localize, convert, and propagate on an SPP surface. This will be a significant guidance on SPP nano-structure design and optimization.展开更多
We have studied the influence of probe-sample interaction in a scanning near-field optical microscopy （SNOM） in the far field by using samples with a step structure. For a sample with a step height of - λ/4, the SN...We have studied the influence of probe-sample interaction in a scanning near-field optical microscopy （SNOM） in the far field by using samples with a step structure. For a sample with a step height of - λ/4, the SNOM image contrast between the two sides of the step changes periodically at different scan heights. For a step height of-λ/2, the image contrast remains approximately the same. The probe-sample interaction determines the SNOM image contrast here. The influence of different refractive indices of the sample has been also analysed by using a simple theoretical model.展开更多
The design and characterization of a tip control unit for an apertureless scanning near field optical microscope (ASNOM) is reported. To make the instrument operation easier, the cantilever control parts (piezo excita...The design and characterization of a tip control unit for an apertureless scanning near field optical microscope (ASNOM) is reported. To make the instrument operation easier, the cantilever control parts (piezo excitation of the cantilever vibration for the dynamic mode feedback and the parts necessary for the optical lever scheme of the vibration control) were placed in a separate detachable assembly. To suppress the influence of vibrations of the setup, the assembly was made lightweight. Good optical access to the ASNOM tip from various directions is provided in the system. High long-term mechanical stability of the system (~50 nm lateral drift in 18 hours) as well as low sensitivity to seismic vibrations (~400 pm RMS) is demonstrated. It is shown that external sound is not a main source of noise in the topography image (~200 pm RMS). The light field distribution (with its amplitude and phase) around the ASNOM tip was acquired by scanning the focal spot around the tip, and a high optical quality of the system is demonstrated.展开更多
Scanning near-field optical microscopy （SNOM） is an ideal experimental measuring system in nano-optical measurements and characterizations. Besides microscopy with resolution beyond the diffraction limit, spectrosco...Scanning near-field optical microscopy （SNOM） is an ideal experimental measuring system in nano-optical measurements and characterizations. Besides microscopy with resolution beyond the diffraction limit, spectroscope with nanometer resolution and other instruments with novel performances have been indispensable for researches in nano-optics and nanophotonics. This paper reviews the developing history of near-field optical （NFO） measuring method and foresees its prospects in future. The development of NFO measurements has gone through four stages, including optical imaging with super resolution, near-field spectroscopy, measurements ofnanooptical parameters, and detections of near-field interac- tions. For every stage, research objectives, technological properties and application fields are discussed.展开更多
We review the technique and research of the ultrahigh spatiotemporal resolved spectroscopy and its applications in the field of the ultrafast dynamics of mesoscopic systems and nanomaterials. Combining femtosecond tim...We review the technique and research of the ultrahigh spatiotemporal resolved spectroscopy and its applications in the field of the ultrafast dynamics of mesoscopic systems and nanomaterials. Combining femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy and scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM),we can obtain the spectra with ultrahigh temporal and spatial resolutions simultaneously. Some problems in doing so are discussed. Then we show the important applications of the ultrahigh spatiotemporal resolved spectroscopy with a few typical examples.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.61177089,61227014,and 60978047)
文摘Phase is one of the most important parameters of electromagnetic waves. It is the phase distribution that determines the propagation, reflection, refraction, focusing, divergence, and coupling features of light, and further affects the intensity distribution. In recent years, the designs of surface plasmon polariton （SPP） devices have mostly been based on the phase modulation and manipulation. Here we demonstrate a phase sensitive multi-parameter heterodyne scanning near-field opti- cal microscope （SNOM） with an aperture probe in the visible range, with which the near field optical phase and amplitude distributions can be simultaneously obtained. A novel architecture combining a spatial optical path and a fiber optical path is employed for stability and flexibility. Two kinds of typical nano-photonic devices are tested with the system. With the phase-sensitive SNOM, the phase and amplitude distributions of any nano-optical field and localized field generated with any SPP nano-structures and irregular phase modulation surfaces can be investigated. The phase distribution and the interference pattern will help us to gain a better understanding of how light interacts with SPP structures and how SPP waves generate, localize, convert, and propagate on an SPP surface. This will be a significant guidance on SPP nano-structure design and optimization.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant Nos 90206003, 10374005, 10434020, 10521002, 10328407 and 90101027） and the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China （Grant No 20040001012）.
文摘We have studied the influence of probe-sample interaction in a scanning near-field optical microscopy （SNOM） in the far field by using samples with a step structure. For a sample with a step height of - λ/4, the SNOM image contrast between the two sides of the step changes periodically at different scan heights. For a step height of-λ/2, the image contrast remains approximately the same. The probe-sample interaction determines the SNOM image contrast here. The influence of different refractive indices of the sample has been also analysed by using a simple theoretical model.
文摘The design and characterization of a tip control unit for an apertureless scanning near field optical microscope (ASNOM) is reported. To make the instrument operation easier, the cantilever control parts (piezo excitation of the cantilever vibration for the dynamic mode feedback and the parts necessary for the optical lever scheme of the vibration control) were placed in a separate detachable assembly. To suppress the influence of vibrations of the setup, the assembly was made lightweight. Good optical access to the ASNOM tip from various directions is provided in the system. High long-term mechanical stability of the system (~50 nm lateral drift in 18 hours) as well as low sensitivity to seismic vibrations (~400 pm RMS) is demonstrated. It is shown that external sound is not a main source of noise in the topography image (~200 pm RMS). The light field distribution (with its amplitude and phase) around the ASNOM tip was acquired by scanning the focal spot around the tip, and a high optical quality of the system is demonstrated.
基金This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant No. 61177089）.
文摘Scanning near-field optical microscopy （SNOM） is an ideal experimental measuring system in nano-optical measurements and characterizations. Besides microscopy with resolution beyond the diffraction limit, spectroscope with nanometer resolution and other instruments with novel performances have been indispensable for researches in nano-optics and nanophotonics. This paper reviews the developing history of near-field optical （NFO） measuring method and foresees its prospects in future. The development of NFO measurements has gone through four stages, including optical imaging with super resolution, near-field spectroscopy, measurements ofnanooptical parameters, and detections of near-field interac- tions. For every stage, research objectives, technological properties and application fields are discussed.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 10434020, 90501007 and 10521002)the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB307001)
文摘We review the technique and research of the ultrahigh spatiotemporal resolved spectroscopy and its applications in the field of the ultrafast dynamics of mesoscopic systems and nanomaterials. Combining femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy and scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM),we can obtain the spectra with ultrahigh temporal and spatial resolutions simultaneously. Some problems in doing so are discussed. Then we show the important applications of the ultrahigh spatiotemporal resolved spectroscopy with a few typical examples.
