title: Near-field optics and spectroscopy for molecular nano-imaging.
abstract: Application of near-field optical microscopy with a sharp metallic probe to Raman spectroscopy brings microanalysis of materials to their nano-identification and imaging. The local plasmon polariton excitation on the probe tip results in the localization and amplification of the optical field at the vicinity of the tip. The tip-enhanced near-field Raman spectroscopy has analyzed DNA base molecules and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with the nanometric spatial resolution and sufficient sensitivity. Combined with tip pressurization and nonlinear effects, the tip-enhanced near-field Raman spectroscopy gives additional spectral information or improves the spatial resolution and sensitivity. This article introduces the recent progresses on the tip-enhanced near-field Raman spectroscopy and imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inouye
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichimura
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008954:Models, Biological; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012834:Silver; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
chemical_list: D012834:Silver; D004247:DNA; D000225:Adenine; D009584:Nitrogen