Nano Scale Optics with Nearfield Scanning Optical Microscopy (NSOM)

Nano Scale Optics with Nearfield Scanning Optical Microscopy (NSOM)

Presentation Overview Motivation for nearfield optics Introduction to NSOM What is NSOM today? What can you do with NSOM? November 2, 6 2

And God said, `Let there Motivation of NFO be light,' and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3,4 Diffraction imposes a natural limit to available resolution with conventional optics. Best microscopes can obtain ~ 250nm resolution: confocal microscopy Oscillating Dipole: 1 1 ik k Eθ = 3 2 4πε r r r r E r 1 2 2ik = 3 2 4πε r r r 2 sin θ pz ( t) e cos θ pz( t) e ikr ikr To probe the nearfield require to be within 100 nm of object The nearfield scanning optical microscope was developed as the device to do this. November 2, 6 3

Presentation Overview Motivation for nearfield optics Introduction to NSOM What is NSOM today? What can you do with NSOM? November 2, 6 4

NSOM Instrumentation / Idea http://www.physics.ncsu.edu/optics/nsom/nsomintro.html Nanonics Imaging Ltd November 2, 6 5

History of NSOM Conception of an instrument E.H. Synge, "A suggested method for extending the microscopic resolution into the ultramicroscopic region," Phil. Mag. 6, 356 (1928). E.H. Synge, "An application of piezoelectricity to microscopy," Phil. Mag. 13, 297 (1932). Proof of Concept with microwaves E.A. Ash and G Nichols, Nature 237, 510 (1972). Experiments in the visible D.W. Pohl, W. Denk, and M. Lanz, APL 44, 651-3 (1984). A. Lewis, M. Isaacson, A. Harootunian, and A. Murray, Ultramicroscopy 13, 227 (1984). November 2, 6 6

Synge s original proposal required fabrication of a 10-nanometer aperture (much smaller than the light wavelength) in an opaque screen A specimen was scanned very close to the aperture As long as the specimen remained within a distance less than the aperture diameter, an image with a resolution of 10 nanometers could be generated. Technical difficulties to overcome: fabricating the minute aperture achieving a sufficiently intense light source specimen positioning at the nanometer scale maintaining the aperture in close proximity to the specimen November 2, 6 7

Implementation in Microwave region http://www.olympusmicro.com/primer/techniques/nearfield/nearfieldintro.html Microwaves with a wavelength of 3 cm Aperture diameter of 1.5 mm Probe scanned over a metal grating with periodic line features 0.5 mm gaps and lines were resolvable Subwavelength resolution of ~ 1/16 lambda November 2, 6 8

Optical Implementation The IBM researchers employed a metal-coated quartz crystal probe on which an aperture was fabricated at the tip, and designated the technique scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). The Cornell group used electron-beam lithography to create apertures, smaller than 50 nanometers, in silicon and metal. The IBM team was able to claim the highest optical resolution of 25 nanometers, or onetwentieth of the 488-nanometer radiation wavelength, utilizing a test specimen consisting of a fine metal line grating. November 2, 6 9

NSOM modes of Operation http://www.physics.ncsu.edu/optics/nsom/nsomintro.html Illumination by the tip is probably the easiest to interpret, and gives the most signal. It requires a transparent sample, so can t always be used. Reflection modes give less light, and are more dependent on the details of the probe tip, but allow one to study opaque samples. The illumination/collection mode provides a complement to the reflection modes, but the signal contains a large background from the light reflected without ever making it out of the probe tip. (This is removed by oscillating the tip vertically and measuring the signal at that frequency.) November 2, 6 10

NSOM modes of Operation Apertureless NSOM PSTM (Photon Scanning Tunneling Microscopy) November 2, 6 11

Comparison to far-field microscopy Two fundamental differences between near-field and far-field (conventional) optical microscopy: In NF microscopy the NF interaction region at a single instant is much smaller than the FF interaction area for conventional microscopy NF microscopy has a subwavelength distance between the radiation source and the sample while FF microscopy has a much larger distance November 2, 6 12

Limitations of near-field optical microsopy Practically zero working distance and an extremely small depth of field. Extremely long scan times for high resolution images or large specimen areas. Very low transmissivity of apertures smaller than the incident light wavelength. Only features at the surface of specimens can be studied. Fiber optic probes are somewhat problematic for imaging soft materials due to their high spring constants, especially in shear-force mode November 2, 6 13

Presentation Overview Motivation for nearfield optics Introduction to NSOM What is NSOM today? What can you do with NSOM? November 2, 6 14

NSOM Today: Similar to Standard Scanning Probe Microscopy with an Optical Channel Mechanical Translation stage, piezoelectric scanner Feedback Control (Z distance) Anti-vibration optical table Electrical Scanning drivers for piezoelectric scanner z distance control Amplifiers, Signal processors Software and Computer Optical Light source (lasers), Fiber, Mirrors, Lenses, Objectives Photon detectors (Photon Multiplier Tube, Avalanche Photo Diode, Charge Coupled Devices) Probe to provide the window to the near-field November 2, 6 15

Z Distance Control Shear force Normal force Science, 257, 189-195 (1992). Veeco Instruments Nanonics Imaging Ltd Witec GmbH November 2, 6 16

NSOM Probes Aperture type Taped fiber, multiple-taped fiber Cantilevered AFM/NSOM tips (Si 3 N 4, SiO 2 ) Other kinds, such as tetrahedral tip, Fluorescent tip Metal Coating Optional Apertureless type Dielectrics, semiconductors or metals Other kinds, such as nano-particle attached tip Nanonics Imaging Ltd Witec GmbH November 2, 6 17

Probe Fabrication: Fiber probes http://www.olympusmicro.com/primer/techniques/nearfield/nearfieldprobes.html Lazarev, A., Rev. Sci. Inst., 74, 3679-3688 (3). November 2, 6 18

Probe Fabrication: Cantilevered probes Mircofabrication Rubbing Focus ion beam milling Special techniques, such as solid electrolysis, self-terminated corrosion November 2, 6 19

Mirco-fabrication: a batch process App. Phy. Lett., 68, 3531-3533 (1996). November 2, 6 20

Commercial NSOM: Nanonics MultiView 0 APD Probe Laser Scanner Nanonics Imaging Ltd November 2, 6 21

Commercial NSOM: Witec ALphaSNOM Cantilevered probe Aperture Probe Mounting Witec GmbH November 2, 6 22

Commercial NSOM: Veeco Aurora3 System schematic Fiber mounting Feedback control Veeco Instruments November 2, 6 23

Nanonics System at Purdue Nanonics MultiView 0 NSOM / AFM Tuning Fork Feedback Control Normal or Shear Force Aperture tips down to 50 nm AFM tips down to 30 nm Radiation Sources: (532, 633, 785) nm Supercontinuum 480-1500+ nm Nanonics Imaging Ltd November 2, 6 24

APD Filter Obj. Lens Upper Piezo To Piezoelectrics Fiber Tip HV Source Freq. Gen. 532nm Source Lower Piezo Obj. Lens Tuning Fork Lock-In Detector PID Controller Filter Computer APD Prof. Shalaev s group Internal to Purdue November 2, 6 25

Purdue Homemade NSOM Developed from Commercial AFM Scanning: micro stages, piezoelectic scanner and probe head Imaging: optics with video monitor, white source and HeNe laser System Setup Light detection: Photomultiplier tube (PMT), photon counter Signal Processing: AutoProbe Electronic Module (AEM), Proscan software User Interface Prof. Xianfan Xu s group Internal to Purdue November 2, 6 26

Schematic of Purdue Home-made NSOM Video Monitor CCD Computer BS PMT Photon Counter AEM White Source BS PSD AFM/NSOM Probe 20 Objective Diode Probe Head Sample Laser HeNe Laser Scanner Prism Z scanner X,Y scanner Prof. Xianfan Xu s group Internal to Purdue November 2, 6 27

Presentation Overview Motivation for nearfield optics Introduction to NSOM What is NSOM today? What can you do with NSOM? November 2, 6 28

What Can you do with NSOM? Ultrahigh resolution OPTICAL Imaging / Plamonic studies Spectroscopy Nearfield Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Local Spectroscopy of Semiconductor Devices Near-field Broadband Spectroscopy Modification of Surfaces Subwavelength photolithography Ultra High Density data storage Laser Ablation Nearfield femtosecond studies November 2, 6 29

High Resolution Optical Imaging SEM 83 nm Optical resolution seen with 100 nm tip AFM Obj. Lens NSOM Prof. Shalaev s group Internal to Purdue APD November 2, 6 30

NF Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) What is Raman spectroscopy? Incident light scattered by a molecule will scatter at different wavelengths than the incident light. Measuring the spectrum of such scattered light provides powerful a fingerprinting technique for identification. What is surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)? Typical Raman signals are rather weak. The electromagnetic fields carrying the fingerprinting information can be enhanced by many orders of magnitude. Add in NSOM: The addition of nearfield optics to such techniques enables localization of illumination or collection of light. This provides the means to detect trace amounts that would otherwise be undetectable. November 2, 6 31

Nearfield SERS of R6-G on a semi continuous metal film Spectrometer Spectra Spacing: 470 nm AFM 250 #6 400 #8 C / 20 min. 150 100 300 Reflection NSOM Prof. Shalaev s group Internal to Purdue C / 20 min. 50 500 400 300 100 600 800 1000 1 1400 600 800 1000 1 1400 #14 700 #16 500 300 600 800 1000 1 1400 600 800 1000 1 1400 1 / cm 1 / cm November 2, 6 32

NF Spectroscopy: Quantum Device Science 264, 1740 (1994) November 2, 6 33

NF Spectroscopy: Broadband Tuning Fork (for feedback control) Photonic Crystal Fibre with broadband output Tapered Fibre Probe Sample Scanning xyz piezo stage YAG 1064 nm Objective Lens 100x 0.75NA Spectrometer Si CCD Prof. Shalaev s group Internal to Purdue November 2, 6 34

NF Broadband Spectroscopy Local Transmittance Representative AFM Laser Phys. Lett. 3, No. 1, 49 55 (6) Optics Letters, Vol.30, No.24, 3356 (5) 2500 Reference Spectrum 500-950nm integrated Transmittance Mapping Function: T (x,y,λ) = I(x,y,λ)/I o (λ) Counts 0 1500 1000 500 633 SMF probe with red Filter 0 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800 850 900 950 WaveLength(nm) 1800 1600 1900 nm 1400 1 1000 800 600 400 500 1000 1500 0 2400 nm November 2, 6 35 Prof. Shalaev s group Internal to Purdue 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10

500-525 g g 525-550 g g 550-575 g g 575-600 g g 600-625 g g 625-650 g g 1400 120 1400 1400 1400 1400 110 1 100 1 1 1 1 1000 90 1000 1000 1000 1000 800 80 70 800 800 800 800 600 60 600 600 600 600 NF Broadband imaging 400 1400 1 1000 400 600 800 650-675 g g 50 40 30 120 110 100 90 1400 1 1000 400 600 800 675-700 g g 400 1400 1 1000 400 600 800 700-725 g g 400 1400 1 1000 400 600 800 725-750 g g 400 1400 1 1000 400 600 800 750-775 g g 400 1400 1 1000 400 600 800 775-800 g g 800 80 70 800 800 800 800 800 Mode Transition as function of Wavelength 1500 nm 600 400 1400 1 1000 800 600 400 400 600 800 800-825 g g 60 50 40 30 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 600 400 1400 1 1000 800 600 400 400 600 800 825-850 g g 600 400 1400 1 1000 800 600 400 400 600 800 850-875 g g 600 400 1400 1 1000 800 600 400 400 600 800 875-900 g g 600 400 1400 1 1000 800 600 400 400 600 800 900-925 g g 600 400 1400 1 1000 800 600 400 400 600 800 925-950 g g 400 600 800 800 nm 400 600 800 400 600 800 400 600 800 400 600 800 400 600 800 November 2, 6 36 Prof. Shalaev s group Internal to Purdue

Subwavelength Photolithography Use NSOM to write patterns into a photoresist Can use aperture NSOM in illumination mode Can use apertureless NSOM utilizing two photon absorption at the metallic tip November 2, 6 37

Ultrahigh Density Data Storage Can use aperture NSOM in illumination mode to both write and read data on magneto-optical material When writing, probe heats the medium under the probe. The domain under the write beam becomes magnetized opposite of the surrounding material. This varying domain of magnetization can then be read using the same probe, but with a lower output power. Appl. Phys. Lett. 61, 142-144 (1992) November 2, 6 38

Nearfield femtosecond studies Pump Probe techniques NSOM allows this technique to employ spatial localization to measure carrier dynamics. (eg in semiconductor devices) Localized laser ablation Currently in use for photomask repair Nanolithography Rev. Sci. Inst. 70, 2758 (1999) J. Microscopy 194, 537 (1999) November 2, 6 39

Other things done with NSOM Fluorescent spectrum studies of biological cells, molecules and DNA Atom trapping and Manipulation Local probing of luminescent devices Low temperature NSOM Surface plasmon / Local field enhancement November 2, 6 40

Recap Nearfield Scanning Optical Microscopy (NSOM) NSOM is a relatively new technology that defeats the diffraction limit for optical measurements. Utilizes the near field portion of electromagnetism to window down to ~ 10 nm spatial resolution. NSOM instrumentation has progressively developed over the past 15 years, to the point where several different basic techniques are available as commercial instruments The principles of NSOM are very much in play within the research community. It has many different applications ranging from biological studies to nanofabrication. Up to Date Near-Field Optics Research NSOM Conference: NFO9 http://www.nfo9.org/ September 6, look for conference proceedings in the Journal of Microscopy, 7 Quick and Easy Resources Review Articles: R.C. Dunn. Chemical Reviews, 99 (1999) 2891. B. Hecht, B. Sick, U.P. Wild, V. Deckert, R. Zenobi, O.J.F. Martin, and D.W. Pohl. Journal of Chemical Physics, 112 (0) 7761. Website: Olympus Microscopy (nearfield section) http://www.olympusmicro.com/primer/techniques/nearfield/nearfieldhome.html November 2, 6 41