SIMPLE DEVICE FOR MAKING OPTICAL-FIBER TIPS FOR SCANNING NEAR-FIELD OPTICAL MICROSCOPES

We present a simple heating-pulling setup for making optical fiber tip s for scanning near field optical microscopes. The heating is realized with a resistant coil and the pulling is performed by a mechanical sp ring. There is no longer the need to use a laser, a multistage puller, or a computer. Fabrication can therefore be realized in situ with the fiber aligned on the microscope and this drastically reduces the cost . (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.