Abstract
First results were obtained with a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) whose gap is filled with a droplet of a liquid metal alloy. The transmission of light through a metal layer may be considered a photon tunneling process. As to be expected on theoretical grounds, we find that the transmission vs. gap width varies on a scale of 5 to 10 mm, which is much more rapid than in any other NFO scheme. A correspondingly high lateral resolution may be anticipated. Successful operation of the device requires good wetting between the liquid metal, probe and sample.
On leave from Faculté des Sciences, Dépt. de Physique, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur
On leave from Physik-Institut, Universität Basel, Klingelbergstr. 82, CH-4056 Basel
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References
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© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Pohl, D.W., Courjon, D., Bainier, C., Dereux, A., Heinzelmann, H. (1993). Optical Tunneling through an Adjustable Liquid Metal Gap. In: Pohl, D.W., Courjon, D. (eds) Near Field Optics. NATO ASI Series, vol 242. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1978-8_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1978-8_7
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