Nanoscale optical microscope

• US 7,623,746 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees of Boston College (Boston College)
• Original Assignee: Trustees of Boston College (Boston College)
• Inventors: Kempa, Krzysztof J., Naughton, Michael J., Ren, Zhifeng
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIET TUAN
• Application Number:
  US11/509,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20070138376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 250/234, 731/05, 324/638, 324/690, 324/754, 385/123, 385/142, 385/902
• US Class Current: 385/123
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G01Q 60/22 Probes, their manufacture, or their related instrumentation, e.g. holders
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2207/101 Nanooptics
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/70275 Multiple projection paths, e.g. array of projection systems, microlens projection systems or tandem projection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/70308 Optical correction elements, filters or phase plates for manipulating imaging light, e.g. intensity, wavelength, polarisation, phase or image shift
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/70325 Resolution enhancement techniques not otherwise provided for, e.g. darkfield imaging, interfering beams, spatial frequency multiplication, nearfield lenses or solid immersion lenses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/902 Nonbundle fiberscope devices

Abstract

Nanoscale optical probes for use with nanoscale optical microscopy are disclosed herein. A nanoscale optical probe for use with a near-field scanning optical microscope includes an inner conductor having a top end, a bottom end, and a body; a dielectric material engaging the inner conductor; and an outer conductor engaging the dielectric material, wherein the inner conductor is longer at a tip surface of the probe than the dielectric material and the outer conductor.

Claims

1. A nanoscale coaxial optical probe comprising:

a inner conductor having a top end, a bottom end, and a body;

a dielectric material engaging the inner conductor; and

an outer conductor engaging the dielectric material,

wherein the inner conductor is longer at a tip surface of the probe than the dielectric material and the outer conductor; and

wherein a diameter of the inner conductor and a diameter of the outer conductor are smaller than an optical signal wavelength.

2. The nanoscale coaxial optical probe of claim 1 wherein the top end and the bottom end of the inner conductor act as nano-optical antennas for receiving and transmitting an optical signal.

3. The nanoscale coaxial optical probe of claim 1 wherein the inner conductor is a carbon nanotube.

4. The nanoscale coaxial optical probe of claim 1 wherein the inner conductor is a nanowire.

5. The nanoscale coaxial optical probe of claim 1 wherein the dielectric material is photovoltaic.

6. The nanoscale coaxial optical probe of claim 1 wherein the dielectric material circumferentially surrounds a portion of the inner conductor and the outer conductor circumferentially surrounds a portion of the dielectric material.

7. The nanoscale coaxial optical probe of claim 1 wherein a top end of the nanoscale coaxial optical probe engages a fiber tip of a near-field scanning optical microscope.

8. The nanoscale coaxial optical probe of claim 1 wherein the probe converts photons from an optical signal into an electric current through a photovoltaic effect.

9. A magnifying element for use with a near-field scanning optical microscope comprising:

a film having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of cylindrical channels; and

an array of nanoscale optical probes converging through the film in the plurality of cylindrical channels, wherein each nanoscale optical probe comprises;

an inner nanowire having a top end, a bottom end, and a body;

a dielectric material engaging the inner nanowire; and

an outer metal material engaging the dielectric material,

wherein each nanowire connects a light-emitting pixel on the top surface of the film with a corresponding light-receiving pixel on the bottom surface of the film.

10. The magnifying element of claim 9 wherein the top end of each nanowire extends beyond the top surface of the film, the body is embedded within the film, and the bottom end extends beyond the bottom surface of the film.

11. The magnifying element of claim 10 wherein the portion that extends beyond the top surface of the film and the bottom surface of the film act as nano-optical antennas for receiving and transmitting an optical signal.

12. The magnifying element of claim 11 wherein the nano-optical antennas on the bottom surface of the film compresses the optical signal into nanoscopic dimensions.

13. The magnifying element of claim 10 wherein the portion that is embedded within the film converts electromagnetic energy collected by the nano-optical antenna on the bottom surface of the film into a transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode as a manageable signal and allows for propagation of the TEM mode with a wavelength exceeding a perpendicular dimension of the nanowire.

14. The magnifying element of claim 9 wherein the film is non-transparent.

15. The magnifying element of claim 9 wherein light from an optical signal is collected by the receiving pixel on the bottom surface of the film which excites the nano-optical antenna on the bottom surface of the film to transmit the light through the nano-coaxial transmission line to the nano-optical antenna on the top surface of the film and re-emit the light into the light-emitting pixel.

16. A nanoscale coaxial optical probe comprising:

a inner conductor having a top end, a bottom end, and a body;

a dielectric material engaging the inner conductor; and

an outer conductor engaging the dielectric material,

wherein the inner conductor is longer at a tip surface of the probe than the dielectric material and the outer conductor; and

wherein the probe converts photons from an optical signal into an electric current through a photovoltaic effect.

17. The nanoscale coaxial optical probe of claim 16 wherein a diameter of the inner conductor and a diameter of the outer conductor are smaller than an optical signal wavelength.

18. The nanoscale coaxial optical probe of claim 16 wherein the dielectric material circumferentially surrounds a portion of the inner conductor and the outer conductor circumferentially surrounds a portion of the dielectric material.

19. The nanoscale coaxial optical probe of claim 16 wherein the top end and the bottom end of the inner conductor act as nano-optical antennas for receiving and transmitting an optical signal.

20. The nanoscale coaxial optical probe of claim 16 wherein the dielectric material is photovoltaic.