ORIGINS AND EFFECTS OF THERMAL-PROCESSES ON NEAR-FIELD OPTICAL PROBES

An aluminum-coated tapered fiber probe, as used in near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), is heated by the light coupled into it. Th is can destroy the probe or may modify the sample, which can be proble matic or used as a tool. To study these thermal effects, we couple mod ulated visible light of various power through probes. Simultaneously c oupled infrared light senses the thermal effects. We report their magn itude, their spatial and temporal scales, and real-time probe damage o bservations. A model describes the experimental data, the mechanisms f or induced IR variation, and their relative importance. (C) 1995 Ameri can Institute of Physics.