Berlin 2008 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 26: Posters II

BP 26.28: Poster

Thursday, February 28, 2008, 17:00–19:30, Poster A

Cantilever Based Apertureless Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy in Aqueous Solution — •Jan Paskarbeit, Heinrich Frey, Christoph Pelargus, Robert Ros, and Dario Anselmetti — Experimental Biophysics & Applied Nanosciences, Department of Physics, Bielefeld University, Germany

Scanning near-field optical microscopy strives for the highest optical resolution, far beyond the classical diffraction limit of Abbé, and simultaneously provides topographical information. In conventional fluorescence SNOM a metallised glass fibre with an aperture of about 50nm is used to illuminate the sample locally. The main drawbacks are, dependent on the size of the aperture, either reduced light throuput or low optical resolution. We presented already a cantilever based setup, in which the tip of an aluminium or silver coated full body glass tip is used as illumination in air and which could be operated at an optical resolution of 15nm on individual fluorescent dye molecules [1]. Especially for applications in life sciences the operation in aqueous solution is essential. In addition to our recent numerical simulations, we present results of gold, silver and aluminium coated glass tips for SNOM operations in liquids with respect of SNOM performance and stability.

[1] Frey, H. G., C. Bolwien, A. Brandenburg, R. Ros und D. Anselmetti: Optimized apertureless optical near-field probes with 15 nm optical resolution. Nanotechnology, 17(13):3105*3110, 2006.