title: Interference effect in apertureless near-field fluorescence imaging.
abstract: Apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy has been used to image fluorescent latex spheres with a resolution of a few tens of nanometers and good signal-to-noise ratio. The near-field fluorescence images reveal optical interference with several highly contrasted fringes located around the spheres. The origin of the interference is discussed in detail, and models are used to explain their formation. Spatial coherence is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Optique Physique, Ecole Supérieure de Physique et Chimie Industrielles, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique A0005, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France. fragola@optique.espci.fr
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fragola
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aigouy
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boccara