title: Imaging the local density of states of optical corrals.
abstract: This paper reports the experimental observation, at optical frequencies, of the electromagnetic local density of states established by nanostructures corresponding to the recently introduced concept of optical corral [G. Colas des Francs et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 4950 (2001)]. The images obtained by a scanning near-field optical microscope under specific operational conditions are found in agreement with the theoretical maps of the optical local density of states. A clear functionality of detection by the scanning near-field optical microscope is thereby identified since the theoretical maps are computed without including any specific tip model.
authors.affiliation: Equipe Optique Submicronique, Laboratoire de Physique de l'Université de Bourgogne (CNRS UMR 5027), 9 avenue A. Savary, F-21078 Dijon, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chicanne
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quidant
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Weeber
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lacroute
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bourillot
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dereux
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colas Des Francs
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Girard