Unlocking the true potential of optical spectroscopy on nanoscale requires development stable and low-noise laser sources. Here, we have developed a supercontinuum (SC) source based an all-normal dispersion fiber pumped by femtosecond demonstrate high resolution, spectrally resolved near-field measurements in near-infrared (NIR) region. Specifically, explore reduced-noise requirements for apert...

Physical basics, technique, equipment, proper experimental conditions, and performance of apertureless reflection back-to-the-fiber SNOM (Rayleigh, Raman, fluorescence) under shear-force control are reported. This technique achieves optical resolutions of < 10 nm on flat surfaces and < 20 nm in the presence of topographies with very sharp tips (< 10 20 nm end radius). It works due to the large ...

We have implemented continuous-wave two-photon excitation of near-UV absorbing fluorophores in a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM). The 647-nm emission of an Ar-Kr mixed gas laser was used to excite the UV-absorbing DNA dyes DAPI, the bisbenzimidazole Hoechst 33342, and ethidium bromide in a shared aperture SNOM with uncoated fiber tips. Polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogast...

We investigate the performance of a simple corrugated aperture scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) probe with various cladding metals. The probes have only one corrugation, however, they offer increased transmission over both uncorrugated probes and those with many grooves. Enhancement of light throughput results from excitation of surface plasmons at the corrugation at the core-cladd...

We have implemented simultaneous picosecond pulsed two- and three-photon excitation of near-UV and visible absorbing fluorophores in a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM). The 1064-nm emission from a pulsed Nd:YVO4 laser was used to excite the visible mitochondrial specific dye MitoTracker Orange CM-H2TMRos or a Cy3-labeled antibody by two-photon excitation, and the UV absorbing DNA d...

Investigations of complex nanostructured materials used in modern technologies require special experimental techniques able to provide information on the structure and electronic properties of materials with a spatial resolution down to the nanometer scale. We tried to address these needs through the combination of x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) using synchrotron radiation microbeams with ...

Local fluorescence probes based on CdSe semiconductor nanocrystals were prepared and tested by recording scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) images of calibration samples and fluorescence resonance energy transfer SNOM (FRET SNOM) images of acceptor dye molecules inhomogeneously deposited onto a glass substrate. Thousands of nanocrystals contribute to the signal when this probe is use...

Abstract All-dielectric nanoantennas, consisting of high refractive index semiconductor material, are drawing a great deal attention in nanophotonics. Owing to their ability manipulate efficiently the flow light within sub-wavelength volumes, they have become building blocks wide range new photonic metamaterials and devices. The interaction antenna with is largely governed by its size, geometry...