THE FOURIER OPTICS OF NEAR-FIELD MICROSCOPY

Many different optical schemes for achieving super-resolution by probi ng a near field have been proposed and one of the most important of th ese is the use of a tapered optical fibre probe. Plain optical fibre p robes have also been used for microscopy. The Fourier optics behind th ese various methods are considered, contrast mechanisms discussed, and the concept of the transfer function for an evanescent field develope d.