Del Mar Photonics

Femtosecond ready NSOM-AFM-STM (Request a quote)


Near-field Scanning Optical Microscope (NSOM) is a versatile tool for nano-characterization and nanomanufacturing.
Conventional microscopes have fundamentally limited resolution due to diffraction, but there is no such restriction for near-field interactions, that is why near-field microscopy is becoming one of the most important techniques for nano-science.
Possible applications of this tool are characterization of photonic nanodevices, bio photonics (investigation of cells, viruses, DNA molecules), nano-chemistry (chemical reactions control), nanoscale photolithography (processing of photosensitive polymers). NSOM delivered femto-second pulses can be used for nanometer-scale surface topology modification. Temporal resolution provided by femtosecond laser opens wide range of new possibilities such as: transport dynamics studies of nanostructured materials, pump-probe experiments, ultra fast coherent and Raman spectroscopy. Spatial optical resolution of the tool is better than 100 nm and temporal resolution in the pulse operation mode is better than 100 fs. Tunable CW operation for spectral measurements is also available, wavelength range in this case is 710-950 nm.
Advanced Nearfield Scanning Optical Microscopy/Atomic Force Microscopy/Scanning Probe Microscopy systems (NSOM-AFM-SPM) are used for numerous applications in materials research, including semiconductors, data storage, electronic materials, solar cells, polymers, catalysts, life sciences and nano-sciences. NSOM-AFM-SPM is a well-established method for ultra-high nano-scale spatial resolution surface imaging and the characterization of surfaces and interfaces down to atomic dimensions.

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Recommended reading:

Science 13 January 2006:
Vol. 311. no. 5758, pp. 189 - 193
DOI: 10.1126/science.1114849

Plasmonics: Merging Photonics and Electronics at Nanoscale Dimensions
Ekmel Ozbay*

Electronic circuits provide us with the ability to control the transport and storage of electrons. However, the performance of electronic circuits is now becoming rather limited when digital information needs to be sent from one point to another. Photonics offers an effective solution to this problem by implementing optical communication systems based on optical fibers and photonic circuits. Unfortunately, the micrometer-scale bulky components of photonics have limited the integration of these components into electronic chips, which are now measured in nanometers. Surface plasmon–based circuits, which merge electronics and photonics at the nanoscale, may offer a solution to this size-compatibility problem. Here we review the current status and future prospects of plasmonics in various applications including plasmonic chips, light generation, and nanolithography.

Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, Bilkent, Ankara 06800 Turkey.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ozbay@bilkent.edu.tr