Cloaked near-field probe for non-invasive near-field optical microscopy

Near-field scanning optical microscopy is a powerful technique for imaging below the diffraction limit, which has been extensively used in biomedical and nanophotonics. However, when electromagnetic fields under measurement are strongly confined, they can be heavily perturbed by presence of near-field probe itself. Here, taking inspiration from scattering-cancellation invisibility cloaks, Huygens–Kerker scatterers, cloaked sensors, we design fabricate probe. We show that, suitably nanostructuring probe, its electric magnetic polarizabilities controlled balanced. As result, probe-induced perturbations largely suppressed, effectively cloaking without preventing ability to measure. experimentally demonstrate effect comparing interaction conventional nanostructured probes with representative nanophotonic structure, namely, 1D photonic-crystal cavity. Our results engineering structure one systematically control back action on resonant sample decrease perturbation > 70 % most our modified probes, up 1 order magnitude best at probe-sample distances 100 nm. work paves way non-invasive classical quantum nanosystems.