Modal approximation for the electromagnetic field of a near-field optical probe

Stochastic scattering polarimetry

We introduce the general concept of stochastic scattering polarimetry and demonstrate that the anisotropic polarizability of a scattering object can be obtained by analyzing the statistical moments of polarimetrically measured intensity distributions. This general procedure is valid even in situations where the state of polarization of the incident field is not known. The efficiency of recovering different scattering polarizabilities is demonstrated numerically for several particular cases pertaining to both far- and near-field optics.

Fabrication and characterization of fluorescent rare-earth-doped glass-particle-based tips for near-field optical imaging applications

Fluorescent rare-earth-doped glass particles glued to the end of an atomic force microscope tip have been used to perform scanning near-field optical measurements on nanostructured samples. The fixation procedure of the fluorescent fragment at the end of the tip is described in detail. The procedure consists of depositing a thin adhesive layer on the tip. Then a tip approach is performed on a fragment that remains stuck near the tip extremity. To displace the particle and position it at the very end of the tip, a nanomanipulation is achieved by use of a second tip mounted on piezoelectric scanners. Afterward, the particle size is reduced by focused ion beam milling. These particles exhibit a strong green luminescence where excited in the near infrared by an upconversion mechanism. Images obtained near a metallic edge show a lateral resolution in the 180-200-nm range. Images we obtained by measuring the light scattered by 250-nm holes show a resolution well below 100 nm. This phenomenon can be explained by a local excitation of the particle and by the nonlinear nature of the excitation.

Ultrafast near-field spectroscopy of single semiconductor quantum dots

Excitonic and spin excitations of single semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) currently attract attention as possible candidates for solid-state-based implementations of quantum logic devices. Due to their rather short decoherence times in the picosecond to nanosecond range, such implementations rely on using ultrafast optical pulses to probe and control coherent polarizations. We combine ultrafast spectroscopy and near-field microscopy to probe the nonlinear optical response of a single QD on a femtosecond time-scale. Transient reflectivity spectra show pronounced oscillations around the QD exciton line. These oscillations reflect phase-disturbing Coulomb interactions between the excitonic QD polarization and continuum excitations. The results show that although semiconductor QDs resemble in many respects atomic systems, Coulomb many-body interactions can contribute significantly to their optical nonlinearities on ultrashort time-scales.

Direct imaging of domains in the Lbeta' state of 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers

A near-field scanning optical microscope was used to study domain formation and evolution in single-component supported lipid bilayers in the gel (L(beta') state. Results on 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers on glass substrates at room temperature are presented. The domain structure is determined by means of the optical anisotropy of the sample, which arises because DPPC molecules are tilted at theta approximately 32 degrees with respect to the bilayer normal [J. F. Nagle and S. Tristram-Nagle, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1469, 159 (2000)]. From the measurements we obtain the difference in the index of refraction for the directions parallel and perpendicular to the acyl chains of the lipid molecules, Delta(n)=0.37+/-0.12, in good agreement with calculated and measured values. Direct evidence of the existence of domains in the L(beta') state is provided. These domains, defined as the correlation of the tilt angle theta, are found to be 1-2 microm across. Furthermore, it was found that they are robust under single-lipid-molecule diffusion, remaining unchanged over periods of hundreds of minutes.

Terahertz near-field imaging

A near-field probe is described that enables high spatial resolution imaging with terahertz (THz) pulses. The spatial resolution capabilities of the system lie in the range of few microns and we demonstrate a resolution of 7 microm using broad-banded THz pulses with an intensity maximum near 0.5 THz. We present a study of the performance of the near-field probes in the collection mode configuration and discuss some image properties.

Optical field study of near-field optical recording with a solid immersion lens

The use of a solid immersion lens (SIL) is an important technique for increasing areal density in optical recording. Here an approximate method is presented for analyzing the optical fields in a SIL above a half-space and a SIL above a multilayer recording medium. Both propagating and evanescent components are included in the distribution of fields below the SIL. An approximate closed-form expression is given for the decay of the intensity away from the SIL surface above a half-space. In the case of a SIL above a recording medium the model describes the strong oscillations that are observed in the reflected Kerr rotation and ellipticity as the medium spacing is varied. These oscillations are attributed to standing waves in the propagating field component.

Analysis of the resonant scattering of light by cylinders at oblique incidence

We study the resonant scattering of light at oblique incidence by dielectric uncoated and coated cylinders. We develop a stable algorithm that permits us to calculate the resonances of a single dielectric cylinder as the tilting angle varies. This algorithm is based on semiclassical formulas for the distance between resonances. Results show that the resonances and the resonant electromagnetic energy flux near and internal to the cylindrical surface are highly sensitive to variations in the tilting angle. In addition, the coating effects are studied for scattering of light at oblique incidence by an infinite, perfect cylindrical conductor coated by a dielectric layer. In this case the resonance calculations show a peculiar similarity between this light scattering and atomic-molecular scattering. A physical interpretation for these effects is given, based on an analogy of optics and quantum mechanics.