Influence of Secondary Tip Shape on Illumination-Mode Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy Images

Published

August 1, 1999

Author(s)

Lee J. Richter, C E. Dentinger, Richard R. Cavanagh, Garnett W. Bryant, A Liu, Stephan J. Stranick, C D. Keating, M J. Natan

Abstract

We report illumination-mode near-field optical microscopy images of individual 80-115 nm diameter Au particles recorded with metal-coated fiber probes. It is found that the images are strongly influenced by the metal-coating thickness. This dependence is consistent with theoretical models which are in good agreement with the experimental images. Probes with thick coatings (~ ) produce images consisting of three extreme, due to a resonance-like polarization of the probe end. Probes with thinner coatings generally produce simpler images. However, in some cases the images contain wave-like structures due to interference between the direct radiation from the tip and propagating tip fields scattered by the particles.

Citation

Journal of the Optical Society of America A-Optics Image Science and Vision

Volume

16

Issue

8

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

discrete-dipole model, nanoparticle, near-field optical microscopy

Citation

Richter, L. , Dentinger, C. , Cavanagh, R. , Bryant, G. , Liu, A. , Stranick, S. , Keating, C. and Natan, M. (1999), Influence of Secondary Tip Shape on Illumination-Mode Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy Images, Journal of the Optical Society of America A-Optics Image Science and Vision (Accessed October 8, 2025)