Nano-optical image and probe in a scanning near-field optical microscope

We study a nanometer-sized optical probe and image in a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM). We demonstrated the potential to observe 5-nn w ide optical patterns using the SNOM. The probe profile was measured by usin g a knife-edge method and a modulated transfer function evaluation method. An aluminum covered and pipet-pulled fiber probe used hen has two optical p robes, one which has a large diameter of 350 nm and one which has a small d iameter of around 10 nm. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .