Near field scanning optical and force microscope including cantilever and optical waveguide
First Claim
1. A cantilever for use in a near field optical scanning microscope, the cantilever comprising:
- a flexible cantilever member having a free end and a fixed end,a tip formed near the free end of the cantilever member, the tip extending from the cantilever member in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cantilever member;
an optical waveguide positioned along the cantilever member and extending to an apex of the tip, an aperture for allowing light to escape from the waveguide being formed near the apex of the tip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A near field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) includes a cantilever which is aligned generally parallel to the surface of a sample. An optical waveguide extends along the cantilever to a tip which protrudes downward from the cantilever. A small aperture at the apex of the tip allows light radiation flowing through the waveguide to be directed toward the sample. The cantilever is vibrated, and variations in its resonant frequency are detected and delivered to a feedback control system to maintain a constant separation between the tip and the sample. The NSOM can also be operated as an atomic force microscope in either a contact or non-contact mode.
171 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A cantilever for use in a near field optical scanning microscope, the cantilever comprising:
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a flexible cantilever member having a free end and a fixed end, a tip formed near the free end of the cantilever member, the tip extending from the cantilever member in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cantilever member; an optical waveguide positioned along the cantilever member and extending to an apex of the tip, an aperture for allowing light to escape from the waveguide being formed near the apex of the tip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification