video-rate super-resolution near-field optical microscopy

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K14148
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 30020:Optical engineering and photon science-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Umakoshi Takayuki 大阪大学, 工学研究科, 助教 (00793192)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 近接場光学顕微鏡 / 高速原子間力顕微鏡

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have developed some of critical technologies for high-speed scanning near-field optical microscopy, which realizes high-speed optical imaging with the nanoscale spatial resolution. We developed a mirror tilter for incident laser focus spot to track the high-speed raster scan of the metallic tip. We confirmed that it was capable of precisely scan the laser beam to obtain an optical image. We also developed a fabrication method of metallic tips at the end of the micro-cantilevers for high-speed scanning near-field optical microscopy. In addition, we realized a way of reuse the micro-cantilevers that were metallized. By performing successive high-speed imaging of a DNA fraction, we observed the dynamics of quenching of fluoresce signals omitted from the sample.

Free Research Field

近接場光学、プラズモニクス、光計測

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来の近接場光学顕微鏡は、１画像取得するのに早くとも数分を要していたため、先端材料のダイナミックな現象や、生体試料の動的振る舞いを観察することはできなかった。本研究で達成される高速化は、これまで近接場光学顕微鏡が対象としていなかったこれらの現象を観察できるため、近接場光学顕微鏡の新たな展開を期待できる。また、高解像度・広視野に観察できるようになるため、半導体ウェハーの丸ごとイメージングなど社会的にも貢献できる可能性を有する。