Superresolution imaging fiber for subwavelength light energy generation and near-field optical microscopy
First Claim
1. A superresolution imaging fiber comprising:
- a preformed, unitary fiber optic array of predetermined configuration and dimensions comprised of a plurality of optical fiber strands disposed co-axially along their lengths and having two discrete optic array ends each formed of multiple optical fiber strand ends and strand end faces, wherein(a) the first of said discrete optic array ends is formed of multiple optical fiber strand ends which collectively present a non-tapered, optic array end surface for the introduction and conveyance of light energy, and(b) the second of said discrete optic array ends is formed of tapered multiple optical fiber strand ends of reduced thickness each of which presents a tapered strand end face limited in size to a range from about 2 nanometers to about 1,000 nanometers in diameter, said tapered multiple strand end faces collectively presenting a tapered optic array end surface;
an opaque metal coating covering said second tapered optic array end surface and overlaying said tapered multiple optical fiber strand end faces as a plurality of open-ended opaque metal tubes each having a size-limited end aperture ranging from about 2 nanometers to less than about 1,000 nanometers in diameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a superresolution imaging fiber for generating a plurality of subwavelength light energy beams concurrently and for near-field viewing. The imaging fiber comprises a unitary fiber optic array of fixed configuration and dimensions comprising typically from 1,000 to 100,000 optical fiber strands which terminate at one array end as tapered strand end faces limited in size to a range from about 2-1,000 nanometers in diameter. Overlyng these tapered strand end faces is a thin opaque metal coating having a size-limited end aperture ranging from about 2 to less than about 1,000 nanometers in diameter. These size-limited end aperatures provide for the generation of a plurality of discrete subwavelength light beams concurrently.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A superresolution imaging fiber comprising:
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a preformed, unitary fiber optic array of predetermined configuration and dimensions comprised of a plurality of optical fiber strands disposed co-axially along their lengths and having two discrete optic array ends each formed of multiple optical fiber strand ends and strand end faces, wherein (a) the first of said discrete optic array ends is formed of multiple optical fiber strand ends which collectively present a non-tapered, optic array end surface for the introduction and conveyance of light energy, and (b) the second of said discrete optic array ends is formed of tapered multiple optical fiber strand ends of reduced thickness each of which presents a tapered strand end face limited in size to a range from about 2 nanometers to about 1,000 nanometers in diameter, said tapered multiple strand end faces collectively presenting a tapered optic array end surface; an opaque metal coating covering said second tapered optic array end surface and overlaying said tapered multiple optical fiber strand end faces as a plurality of open-ended opaque metal tubes each having a size-limited end aperture ranging from about 2 nanometers to less than about 1,000 nanometers in diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for making a superresolution imaging fiber comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a preformed, unitary fiber optic array of predetermined configuration and dimensions comprised of a plurality of optical fiber strands disposed co-axially along their lengths and having two discrete optic array ends each formed of multiple optical fiber strand ends and strand end faces; pulling and heating one of said discrete optic array ends to form tapered multiple optical fiber strand ends of reduced thickness each of which presents a tapered strand end face limited in size to a range from about 2 nanometers to about 1,000 nanometers in diameter, said tapered multiple strand end faces collectively presenting a tapered optic array end surface; and applying an opaque metal coating over said tapered optic array end surface and as an overlay to said tapered multiple optical fiber strand end faces to form a plurality of open-ended opaque metal tubes each having a size-limited end aperture ranging from about 2 nanometers to less than about 1,000 nanometers in diameter.
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10. A method for making a superresolution imaging fiber comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a preformed, unitary fiber optic array of predetermined configuration and dimensions comprised of a plurality of optical fiber strands disposed co-axially along their lengths and having two discrete optic array ends each formed of multiple optical fiber strand ends and strand end faces; etching one of said discrete optic array ends to form tapered multiple optical fiber strand ends of reduced thickness each of which presents a tapered strand end face limited in size to a range from about 2 nanometers to about 1,000 nanometers in diameter, said tapered multiple strand end faces collectively presenting a tapered optic array end surface; and applying an opaque metal coating over said tapered optic array end surface and as an overlay to said tapered multiple optical fiber strand end faces to form a plurality of open-ended opaque metal tubes each having a size-limited end aperture ranging from about 2 nanometers to less than about 1,000 nanometers in diameter.
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11. A method for making a superresolution imaging fiber comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a preformed, unitary fiber optic array of predetermined configuration and dimensions comprised of a plurality of optical fiber strands disposed co-axially along their lengths and having two discrete optic array ends each formed of multiple optical fiber strand ends and strand end faces; pulling and heating one of said discrete optic array end to form tapered multiple optical fiber strand ends of reduced thickness each of which presents a tapered strand end face; etching said pulled and heated optic array end to form sharply tapered multiple optical fiber end strands each of which presents a sharply tapered end face limited in size to a range from about 2 nanometers to about 1,000 nanometers in diameter, said sharply tapered multiple strand end faces collectively presenting a tapered optic array end surface; and applying an opaque metal coating over said tapered optic array end surface and as an overlay to said sharply tapered multiple optical fiber strand end faces to form a plurality of open-ended opaque metal tubes each having a size-limited end aperture ranging from about 2 nanometers to less than about 1,000 nanometers in diameter.
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Specification