Near-field optical probe
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A near-field optical probe comprising:
- a supporting member;
a microscopic aperture formed at a tip of the supporting member for generating near-near-field light or scattering and detecting near-near-field light to interact with an object; and
a fine structure having features smaller than a diameter of the microscopic aperture formed in or nearby a surface of the microscopic aperture.
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Abstract
A near-field optical probe with a resolving power exceeding a diffraction limit of light is provided utilizing near-near-field light. A near-field optical probe is formed by a core and a shading film. The core has a tip surface spotted with inwardly depressed points with respect to the surface. This provides within the tip surface a light intensity distribution in a distributed form instead of a conventional rectangle function. Its Fourier expansion is increased in short-wavelength lattice constant component. Utilizing this component, a near-field optical probe is realized having a resolving power exceeding a diffraction limit of light.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A near-field optical probe comprising:
a supporting member;
a microscopic aperture formed at a tip of the supporting member for generating near-near-field light or scattering and detecting near-near-field light to interact with an object; and
a fine structure having features smaller than a diameter of the microscopic aperture formed in or nearby a surface of the microscopic aperture.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An optical probe comprising:
- an optical waveguide having a sharpened tip;
an aperture portion for passing light therethrough formed at an end of the tip; and
a surface pattern formed in a surface of the aperture portion for disrupting light. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- an optical waveguide having a sharpened tip;
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27. A probe microscope for observing a sample, comprising:
- an optical waveguide probe having a sharpened end provided with an aperture portion for passing light, a surface of the aperture portion having formed thereon a surface pattern for disrupting light passing therethrough;
a light source and optics for irradiating the sample with light;
a photoelectric converter and optics for receiving at least one of a light transmitted through the sample and the waveguide probe;
a laser source for producing laser light used for detecting deflections of the probe during scanning movement of the probe across a surface of the sample;
a lens for directing the laser light to a reflective surface of the probe;
detecting means for detecting light reflected from the reflective surface;
moving means for causing relative movement between the sample and the probe; and
control means for controlling a distance between the surface of the sample and a front end of the probe. - View Dependent Claims (28)
- an optical waveguide probe having a sharpened end provided with an aperture portion for passing light, a surface of the aperture portion having formed thereon a surface pattern for disrupting light passing therethrough;
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29. A head mechanism for a data storage device, comprising:
- a support member for undergoing controlled movement with respect to a data storage medium and being connectable to a mechanism for swinging the support member about a swing axis; and
an optical waveguide supported by the support member and having an aperture portion formed therein for passing light, a surface of the aperture portion having formed thereon a surface pattern for disrupting light passed therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
- a support member for undergoing controlled movement with respect to a data storage medium and being connectable to a mechanism for swinging the support member about a swing axis; and
Specification