An apertureless near-field scanning optical microscope (a-NSOM) setup is described. Special consideration is given to important system components. Surface plasmons are defined, as is their relationship to a- NSOM and their interaction with the scanning probe tip. We used this set-up to measure a metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) antenna integrated with a quantum cascade laser (QCL). The former is introduced and described. The role of the atomic force microscope (AFM) in the experiment is laid out and explained. Finally, the lock-in amplifier is explained. Next, the system setup is introduced and explained from the point of view of the light path taken by light generated in the laser. Finally, results are given for the MDM single nanorod antenna and the coupled MDM nanorod antenna. Simulation, topography, and NSOM images are shown. Lastly, several experimental issues are discussed as well as other types of NSOM.

Date Published: 25 August 2010
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 7787, Novel Optical Systems Design and Optimization XIII, 77870R (25 August 2010); doi: 10.1117/12.861582

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7787:
Novel Optical Systems Design and Optimization XIII
G. Groot Gregory; R. John Koshel, Editor(s)