Fabrication and evaluation of a localized plasmon resonance probe for near-field optical microscopy/spectroscopy

A technique that excites a localized plasmon on the apex of probe for near-field optical microscope and spectroscope is presented. Vapor deposition and heating of several tens nm thick gold films on 1 nm thick germanium-covered tapered optical fiber probe make highly adherent and smooth overlayers. A “tunneling-photon-mode” experimental system combined with a dye laser is used to excite a localized plasmon. The enhancement of near-field intensity was measured varying incident photon energies with its maximum occurring at 2.11 eV. This local field enhancement could be estimated to generate only in the close proximity of the substrate.

[1]  A. Campion,et al.  Surface-enhanced Raman scattering , 1998 .

[2]  Fischer Uc,et al.  Observation of single-particle plasmons by near-field optical microscopy. , 1989 .

[3]  H. Raether.  Surface Plasmons on Smooth and Rough Surfaces and on Gratings , 1988 .

[4]  M. Ohtsu.  Progress of high-resolution photon scanning tunneling microscopy due to a nanometric fiber probe , 1995 .

[5]  John E. Wessel,et al.  Surface-enhanced optical microscopy , 1985 .

[6]  Vollmer,et al.  Width of cluster plasmon resonances: Bulk dielectric functions and chemical interface damping. , 1993, Physical review. B, Condensed matter.

[7]  E. Betzig,et al.  Near-Field Optics: Microscopy, Spectroscopy, and Surface Modification Beyond the Diffraction Limit , 1992, Science.

[8]  Ferrell,et al.  Optical properties of submicrometer-size silver needles. , 1988, Physical review. B, Condensed matter.

[9]  Shudong Jiang,et al.  Highly controllable fabrication of fiber probe for photon scanning tunneling microscope , 1994 .

[10]  W. Denk,et al.  Optical stethoscopy: Image recording with resolution λ/20 , 1984 .

[11]  Daniel Courjon,et al.  Near field optics , 1993 .

[12]  Ferrell,et al.  New form of scanning optical microscopy. , 1989, Physical review. B, Condensed matter.

[13]  Theo Rasing,et al.  Local-field enhancement on rough surfaces of metals, semimetals, and semiconductors with the use of optical second-harmonic generation , 1984 .

[14]  Hans D. Hallen,et al.  Raman imaging with near‐field scanning optical microscopy , 1995 .

[15]  Renaud Bachelot,et al.  Near field optical microscopy using a metallic vibrating tip , 1995 .

[16]  Abraham Nitzan,et al.  Electromagnetic theory of enhanced Raman scattering by molecules adsorbed on rough surfaces , 1980 .

[17]  Specht,et al.  Scanning plasmon near-field microscope. , 1992, Physical review letters.

[18]  Y. Inouye,et al.  A scanning near‐field optical microscope having scanning electron tunnelling microscope capability using a single metallic probe tip , 1995 .

[19]  J. Coutaz,et al.  Observation of stimulated surface-enhanced Raman scattering through grating excitation of surface plasmons , 1996 .

[20]  James P. Gordon,et al.  Radiation Damping in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering , 1982 .

[21]  A. Kinbara,et al.  Friction measurement of coated surfaces with a vibrated diamond stylus , 1987 .

[22]  Lukas Novotny,et al.  Light confinement in scanning near-field optical microscopy , 1995 .

[23]  R. W. Christy,et al.  Optical Constants of the Noble Metals , 1972 .

[24]  F. Aussenegg,et al.  Optical dichroism of lithographically designed silver nanoparticle films. , 1996, Optics letters.