Near-field fluorescence imaging of single molecules with a resolution in the range of 10 nm.
We demonstrate fluorescence imaging of single molecules, by near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), using the illumination-collection mode of operation, with an aperture probe. Fluorescence images of single dye molecules were obtained with a spatial resolution of 15 nm, which is smaller than the diameter of the aperture (20 nm) of the probe employed. Such super-resolution may be attributable to non-radiative energy transfer from the molecules to the coated metal of the probe since the resolution obtained in the case of conventional NSOM is limited to 30-50 nm due to penetration of light into the metal.
Hosaka
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Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology, 408 KSP-East, 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan. hosaka@net.ksp.or.jp
Saiki
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T