title: Single molecules observed by near-field scanning optical microscopy.
abstract: Individual carbocyanine dye molecules in a sub-monolayer spread have been imaged with near-field scanning optical microscopy. Molecules can be repeatedly detected and spatially localized (to approximately lambda/50 where lambda is the wavelength of light) with a sensitivity of at least 0.005 molecules/(Hz)(1/2) and the orientation of each molecular dipole can be determined. This information is exploited to map the electric field distribution in the near-field aperture with molecular spatial resolution.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Betzig
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Chichester