Photon Scanning Tunneling Microscope Research Articles

근접장 주사 광학현미경을 이용한 광 도파로 특성 연구

광 도파로를 따라 전파하는 빛의 특성을 측정하기 위해 근접장 주사 광학현미경(Near-field scanning optical microscope, NSOM)으로 광 도파로의 표면에 형성된 에바네슨트 파 evanescent wave)의 분포를 측정하였다. 사용된 NSOM은 photon scanning tunneling microscope방식으로 본 연구의 목적에 적합하도록 직접 제작한 것이다. 광원 파장 1550㎚에서 단일 모드 다중 모드 채널형 광 도파로에 대해 도파로 표면에 형성된 에바네슨트 파의 분포를 측정하였으며, 3차원 빔전파방법(Beam Propagation Method)으로 계산된 수치 해석 결과와 두 모드 간의 간섭 형상을 직접적으로 확인할 수 있었다. The propagation characteristic of an optical waveguide was investigated by measuring with a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) the evanescent field formed at the neighbor of its core-cladding interface. For this purpose, the NSOM system was developed specially as a form of Photon scanning tunneling microscope. The evanescent field distributions of several channel waveguides were measured at the wavelength of 1550 ㎚, and the usefulness of the system was verified by comparing experimental results with simulation results. In particular, the interference phenomena of the guided modes during their propagation along a multimode channel waveguide could be observed directly from the measured evanescent field distribution.

Near-Field Probing Surface Plasmon Enhancement Effect on Two-Photon Emission

A photon scanning tunneling microscope is employed to probe the surface-plasmon-induced local field enhancement effect on two-photon fluorescence from organic nanoparticles adsorbed on silver surface. A size dependence of fluorescence enhancement and photodecomposition is observed, which results from the competition between the surface-plasmon-enhanced two-photon fluorescence and the nonradiative energy transfer from the excited dye molecules to the silver surface.

Detailed analysis of the intracavity phenomena inside a cylindrical microresonator

Based on a rigorous analysis of the intensity distribution inside a cylindrical microresonator (MR), a detailed description of the wavelength and spatial dependence of the intracavity intensity is given. The theory is in accordance with photon scanning tunneling microscopy (PSTM) of an integrated optics MR. Good agreement between the theory and the PSTM measurements is found.

Spatially resolved photonic transfer through mesoscopic heterowires.

We report spatially resolved observations of light wave propagation along high refraction index dielectric heterowires lying on a transparent substrate. The heterowires are made of linear chains of closely packed mesoscopic particles. The optical excitation of these heterowires is performed through channel waveguides featuring submicrometer transverse cross sections. Both numerical simulations and near-field optical images, recorded with a photon scanning tunneling microscope, agree to show that, at visible frequencies, tuning the periodicity of the heterowires controls the propagation length within a range of several micrometers.

Controlling the optical response of regular arrays of gold particles for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

This paper is intended to show how the control of the optical response of regular arrays of gold nanoparticles allows to improve our understanding of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Regular particle arrays, designed by electron-beam lithography, exhibit remarkable optical properties and appear to be suitable substrates for the deepened study of the mechanisms at the origin of the SERS effect. Indeed, the resonance of the surface plasmons localized on the particles, which are at the origin of visible to near-infrared extinction spectra and the SERS effect, can be tuned to almost any desirable wavelength by varying the particle shape, size, and spacing, thus optimizing the Raman amplification. The optical extinction spectrum of various gratings was calculated in order to gain insight into their physical sense. The SERS study of trans-1,2-bis (4-pyridyl) ethylene (BPE) adsorbed on these arrays enabled us to determine the enhancement factors G of four bands in the BPE Raman spectrum. The G values thus deduced were found to be of the same order of magnitude as those calculated using a phenomenological relation derived from the electromagnetic theory. Furthermore, a photon scanning tunneling microscope enabled us to acquire near-field optical images of the arrays and to estimate the electric near-field enhancement resulting from plasmon excitation; the Raman enhancement factor thus obtained is of the same order of magnitude as that found from Raman experiments.

Large local optical activity in fractal aggregates of nanoparticles

Large local optical activity in fractal aggregates of silver nanoparticles has been observed by means of photon scanning tunneling microscopy. The effect occurs because resonant plasmon modes in random fractals can have handedness in spatial distribution of their amplitudes. In agreement with experimental observations, numerical simulations show dramatic difference in dipole-moment distributions for right- and left-circularly polarized incident light when the cluster size is comparable with or larger than the wavelength. Variations in the local parameter describing the circular intensity difference of scattered light show that fractal aggregates are characterized by broad and random distributions of chiral plasmon modes.

Coupling of surface-plasmon polaritons to directional far-field radiation by an individual surface protrusion

An experimental study of surface-plasmon polariton scattering by an individual surface protrusion on a silver film has been performed. Both in- and out-of-plane scattering have been investigated by imaging with a photon-scanning tunneling microscope at various probe-to-sample distances. For imaging in close proximity we observed a bright spot with rims on the shadow side, but, for imaging at larger distances, the location of the bright spot shifts away from the direction of the incoming surface-plasmon polariton. We estimate a pronounced peak in the far-field scattering pattern at an angle of ~20 degrees from the sample plane, which is in good agreement with recent theoretical studies and indicates that the same protrusion could possibly be used for local launching of surface-plasmon polaritons in a reversed illumination configuration.

Addressing and imaging high optical index dielectric ridges in the optical near field.

Experimental observation of light coupling between TiO(2) integrated waveguides of subwavelength cross section and pure three-dimensional evanescent light fields is reported. This near-field optical phenomenon is produced by controlling the location of the focusing of a laser beam totally reflected at the surface of the sample. The phenomenon is observed in direct space with a photon scanning tunneling microscope. Dielectric ridges several tens of micrometers long have been efficiently excited with this technique. Upon excitation, the extremities of the linear dielectric wires display intense light spots localized both inside and around the ridge. For ridge lengths up to 30 microm, the observed phenomenon has been reproduced numerically with a parallel implementation based on the three-dimensional Green dyadic method.

Tracking femtosecond laser pulses in space and time.

We show that the propagation of a femtosecond laser pulse inside a photonic structure can be directly visualized and tracked as it propagates using a time-resolved photon scanning tunneling microscope. From the time-dependent and phase-sensitive measurements, both the group velocity and the phase velocity are unambiguously and simultaneously determined. It is expected that this technique will find applications in the investigation of the local dynamic behavior of photonic crystals and integrated optical circuits.

Hybrid near-field optical memory and photofabrication in dye-doped polymer film

A hybrid near-field fluorescence microscopy, which combines near-field scanning optical microscopy and photon scanning tunneling microscopy, is demonstrated for nanoscale optical memory and photofabrication on spin-coated dye-doped polymer films. Storage capacity and readout signal-to-noise ratio with near-field one-photon and two-photon excitations are studied.

Surface plasmon polaritons on metal cylinders with dielectric core

Metal-cladded dielectric cylinders with submicron diameters may serve to model coated tips used in near-field scanning optical microscopy. The signal measured may be greatly influenced by resonance effects due to eigenmodes of the probe. Especially, using a photon scanning tunneling microscope setup, gold-coated tips have been found to detect a signal proportional to the magnetic field distributions [E. Devaux et al., Phys. Rev. B 62, 10 504 (2000)]. This effect is attributed to cylindrical surface plasmons. We present here fully retarded calculations of the dispersion and field patterns of the nonradiative plasmon modes in cylindrical geometry. We study the effect of varying the cylinder radius on the surface plasmon dispersion, thus justifying that the cylinder is a useful model for near-field probes in spite of their slightly conical shape.

Surface plasmon polariton propagation across a gentle silver step

Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) are excited with light of wavelength λ 1=632.8 nm on or near a gentle Ag/Ag step structure using focused beam, prism coupling and detected using a bare, sharpened fibre tip. The tip–sample separation is controlled by means of an evanescent optical field at wavelength λ 2=543.5 nm in a photon scanning tunnelling microscope (PSTM). The SPP propagation properties are first characterised on both the thin and thick sections of the Ag film structure either side of the step, both macroscopically, using attenuated total reflection, and microscopically from the PSTM images; the two techniques yield very good agreement. It is found that the SPP propagation length is ∼10–11 μm across the step in each direction (thick to thin and vice versa) as observed in the PSTM images. Thus, with reference to the propagation lengths of 14.2 and 11.7 μm for the thick and thin planar parts of the Ag film respectively, it is concluded that the SPPs negotiate the step reasonably successfully. Importantly, also, it is shown that images may be produced, displaying SPPs with either an artificially enhanced (∼15–20 μm) or truncated (5–8 μm) propagation length across the step. Consideration of such images leads us to suggest the possibility that the photon tunnelling occurs in a local water environment.

Visualization of mode transformation in a planar waveguide splitter by near-field optical phase imaging

The gradual transformation of a guided TM00 mode into an “intermediate” double mode by a splitting junction has been investigated with a phase-sensitive photon scanning tunneling microscope. Field profiles and wave vectors of the modes have been directly determined from the phase information. Via a Fourier analysis of the measured phase and amplitude maps the decay of the TM00 mode and buildup of the intermediate mode have been directly visualized. Phase singularities and phase jumps in the transition region underline the mode transformation process. Finally, a partial polarization conversion of the TM modes to TE-polarized modes has been observed.

Near-field observation of surface plasmon polariton propagation on thin metal stripes

We use a photon scanning tunneling microscope to probe the field of surface plasmon polariton modes excited on finite-width thin metal films (metal stripes). We first investigate the coupling between surface plasmons launched by a focused beam on a homogeneous thin film and the modes sustained by metal stripes of different widths. We show that, if the width of the metal stripe is about a few micrometers, a strong coupling with the stripe modes can be achieved at visible frequencies. A sharp transverse confinement of the field associated with the surface plasmon modes propagating on the metal stripe is unambiguously observed on the constant height photon scanning tunneling microscope images. The back-reflection of these modes at the end of the stripe leads to a surface-wave interference pattern from which the wavelength of the stripe surface plasmon modes is directly measured. We finally demonstrate that metal stripes could be used for optical addressing purposes at the micrometer scale since a stripe with a triangularly shaped termination performs the focusing of the stripe surface plasmon field.

Surface plasmon polariton propagation length: A direct comparison using photon scanning tunneling microscopy and attenuated total reflection

The propagation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPP's) is studied using a photon scanning tunneling microscope (PSTM) and conventional attenuated total reflection (ATR). The PSTM experiment uses localized (focused beam) launching of SPP's at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. Propagation of the SPP is observed as an exponentially decaying tail beyond the launch site and the $1/e$ propagation length is measured directly for a series of Ag films of different thicknesses. The ATR measurements are used to characterize the thin film optical and thickness parameters, revealing, notably, the presence of a contaminating adlayer of ${\mathrm{Ag}}_{2}\mathrm{S}$ of typical dielectric function, $8.7+i2.7,$ and thickness 1--2 nm. Values of the SPP propagation length, based on the ATR-derived film parameters used in the four-media implicit SPP dispersion relation, show very good agreement with those based on the PSTM images for the case of undercoupled or optimally coupled SPP modes. The observed propagation lengths are quantitatively analyzed taking explicit account of additional intrinsic damping due to the growth of the ${\mathrm{Ag}}_{2}\mathrm{S}$ layer and of reradiation of the SPP back into the prism outside the launch site. Finally, the PSTM images show excellent SPP beam confinement in the original propagation direction.

Near-field optical response of a two-dimensional grating of gold nanoparticles

Laboratoire de Physique, Optique Submicronique, Universite´de Bourgogne, Boite Postale 47870, F-21078 Dijon, France~Received 1 August 2000; published 4 April 2001!This article reports on the near-field optical response of a small square grating of gold nanoparticles tailoredby electron-beam lithography. The investigation of the grating is aimed at a deepened understanding ofelectromagnetic interaction among particles due to scattered light fields. Therefore, a photon scanning tunnel-ing microscope is applied to acquire near-field optical images. Two different incident wavelengths are used tocharacterize the intensity and the spatial localization of the electromagnetic near field both in and out ofresonance for the excitation of particle plasmons. Furthermore, the near-field enhancement resulting from theplasmon excitation is evaluated.DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.63.165422 PACS number~s!: 78.66.2w, 07.79.Fc, 42.25.FxI. INTRODUCTION

Photoconductive imaging in a photon scanning tunnelling microscope capable of point-contact current sensing using a conductive fibre probe.

A photoconductive photon scanning tunnelling microscope was developed to investigate the point-contact photoconductive properties of condensed matter. In order to detect the current and the optical signal at a local point on a surface, we coated the edge of a bent type fibre probe with indium tin oxide. Thus it was possible to measure both photocurrent and optical property with subwavelength resolution. The performance of the novel microscope was evaluated by analysing an organic thin film of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc), which is known to be an efficient photoconductive material. Photocurrent and current-voltage characteristics were observed at the local point on the CuPc thin films. Furthermore, photoconductive images were obtained with topography and near-field optical imaging using this system. The photoconductive PSTM shows potential in various areas of future optics and electronics.

Light field propagation by metal micro- and nanostructures.

The ability to sustain plasmon oscillations gives rise to unique properties of metal nanostructures, which can be exploited for the controlled manipulation of light fields on the nanoscale. In this context we investigate electromagnetic coupling effects within lithographically produced ensembles of gold nanoparticles with a photon scanning tunnelling microscope. To provide an interface between these nano-optical devices and classical far-field optics, we investigate surface plasmon propagation on microstructured metal thin films.

Experimental statistics of near-field intensity distributions at nanostructured surfaces.

Scanning near-field optical microscopy is a technique in which the resolution is primarily determined by the size of a probe and not by the wavelength of illumination as in classical (far-field) microscopy. However, the relationship between a sample and its near-field optical image is usually rather complex. Typical factors responsible, at least partially, for such a complexity are the conditions of illumination and detection, sample characteristics (e.g. roughness and dielectric constant) and optical properties of the probe. Theoretical and experimental works conducted to improve our understanding of the relation between the object and the image have been reported (Greffet & Carminati, 1997). Recently, with the help of a photon scanning tunnelling microscope we have carried out an extensive study of the resultant near-field intensity distributions due to the elastic (in the plane) scattering of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) at metal film surfaces. We have also directly observed (in similar experimental conditions) localized dipolar excitations in silver colloid fractals (Bozhevolnyi et al., 1998). In both cases, the studied phenomena are intimately related to the regime of multiple light scattering, in which the interference effects are rather complicated and therefore a proper interpretation of them was far from being trivial. Thus, even though a certain understanding of many features inherent to the subwavelength light interference phenomena was gained (Bozhevolnyi & Coello, 1998; Bozhevolnyi et al., 1998; Coello & Bozhevolnyi, 1999), it is clear from the outcome of the investigations that more systematic studies in this context are still needed. A different and more powerful approach may be a statistical study of the recorded near-field intensity distributions. In this work, we report what we believe to be the first results on experimental statistics of near-field optical images exhibiting localized optical excitations (related to the regime of multiple scattering of light). We investigated optical images obtained with SPPs excited at different light wavelengths and scattered at different film surfaces, and with different polarizations and wavelengths of light scattered by silver colloid fractal structures. We have found significant differences in statistics between near-field intensity distributions taken at rough and smooth metal film surfaces and fractal structures. Finally, our predictions seem to be in agreement with theoretical studies reported by other authors (Sanchez-Gil & Garcia-Ramos, 1998).

Local phase measurements of light in a one-dimensional photonic crystal.

For the first time the local optical phase evolution in and around a small, one-dimensional photonic crystal has been visualized with a heterodyne interferometric photon scanning tunnelling microscope. The measurements show an exponential decay of the optical intensity inside the crystal, which consists of a periodic array of subwavelength air rods fabricated in a conventional ridge waveguide. In addition it is found that the introduction of the air rods has a counterintuitive effect on the phase development inside the structure. The heterodyne detection scheme allows the detection of low-intensity scattered waves. In the vicinity of the scattering air rods phase singularities are found with a topological charge of plus or minus one.