A. Jalocha et Nf. Vanhulst, POLARIZATION CONTRAST IN FLUORESCENCE SCANNING NEAR-FIELD OPTICAL REFLECTION MICROSCOPY, Journal of the Optical Society of America. B, Optical physics, 12(9), 1995, pp. 1577-1580
Polarization contrast is presented in fluorescence images of a Langmui
r-Blodgett monolayer obtained with a scanning near-field optical micro
scope operated in reflection. A tapered optical fiber is used both to
excite and to collect the fluorescence. The lateral resolution in the
reflection fluorescence image is estimated at 200 nm. Shear-force dete
ction controls the tip-to-surface distance and simultaneously gives a
topographic map. Direct correlation between topography and the fluores
cent domain is thus obtained. We show that the fluorescence is polariz
ed along the molecular orientation in the Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer.
Thus we demonstrate the study of the polarization direction in the re
flection mode.