Optical probe having tapered wave guide and scanning near-field optical microscope utilizing optical probe
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical probe comprising:
- a waveguide having an optical opening for passing light therethrough, the optical opening forming a sharp tip at a distal end of the waveguide; and
a metal film coated on the entire distal end of the waveguide except for the optical opening, the metal film having a curved surface gradually retreating from the optical opening to an outer circumference of the waveguide.
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Abstract
An optical probe comprises a waveguide having an optical opening for passing light therethrough, the waveguide terminating in a sharp tip at a distal end thereof. A metal film is coated on the distal end of the waveguide except for the optical opening. The metal film has a curved surface gradually retreating from the optical opening to an outer circumference of the waveguide.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An optical probe comprising:
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a waveguide having an optical opening for passing light therethrough, the optical opening forming a sharp tip at a distal end of the waveguide; and a metal film coated on the entire distal end of the waveguide except for the optical opening, the metal film having a curved surface gradually retreating from the optical opening to an outer circumference of the waveguide.
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2. An optical probe comprising:
- a waveguide having an optical opening for passing light therethrough, the waveguide terminating in a sharp tip at a distal end thereof;
a first coating film disposed on the distal end of the waveguide; and
a second coating film disposed directly on the first coating film and having a tapered portion in the vicinity of the sharp tip, the first coating film and the second coating film being composed of the same material. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
- a waveguide having an optical opening for passing light therethrough, the waveguide terminating in a sharp tip at a distal end thereof;
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6. A scanning near-field optical microscope for measuring topographical and optical characteristics of a sample, comprising:
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an optical probe comprised of a waveguide having an optical opening for passing light therethrough, the optical opening forming a sharp tip at a distal end of the optical probe, and a metal film coated on the entire distal end of the optical probe except for the optical opening, the metal film having a curved surface gradually retreating from the optical opening to an outer circumference of the waveguide; vibrating means for producing vertical or horizontal vibrations relatively between the sharp tip of the optical probe and the sample; displacement detecting means for detecting displacement of the optical probe; and control means for controlling a distance between the sharp tip of the optical probe and a surface of the sample on the basis of a detecting signal outputted by the detecting means.
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7. An optical probe comprising:
- a waveguide having an optical opening for passing light therethrough, the waveguide terminating in a sharp tip at a distal end thereof; and
a reflective material coated on the entire distal end of the waveguide except for the optical opening, the reflective material having a curved surface portion gradually retreating from the optical opening to an outer circumference of the waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
- a waveguide having an optical opening for passing light therethrough, the waveguide terminating in a sharp tip at a distal end thereof; and
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10. An optical probe comprising:
- a waveguide having a central axis and an optical opening for passing light therethrough, the waveguide terminating in a sharp tip at a distal end thereof;
a first reflecting material disposed on the distal end thereof except for the optical opening and disposed on an outer circumference of the waveguide; and
a second reflecting material disposed on an outer circumference of the first reflecting material, the second reflecting material second reflecting material having a first tapered surface portion disposed in the vicinity of the sharp tip at a first preselected angle relative to the central axis of the waveguide and a second tapered surface portion contiguous with the first tapered surface portion and disposed at a second preselected angle relative to the central axis of the waveguide different from the first preselected angle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- a waveguide having a central axis and an optical opening for passing light therethrough, the waveguide terminating in a sharp tip at a distal end thereof;
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17. A scanning near-field optical microscope for measuring topographical and optical characteristics of a sample, comprising:
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an optical probe comprised of a waveguide having an optical opening for passing light therethrough, the waveguide terminating in a sharp tip at a distal end thereof, and a reflective material coated on the entire distal end of the waveguide except for the optical opening, the reflective material having a curved surface portion gradually retreating from the optical opening to an outer circumference of the waveguide; vibrating means for producing vertical or horizontal vibrations relatively between the sharp tip of the optical probe and the sample; displacement detecting means for detecting displacement of the optical probe; and control means for controlling a distance between the sharp tip of the optical probe and a surface of the sample on the basis of a detecting signal outputted by the detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification