title: Scanning near-field optical microscopy.
abstract: An average human eye can see details down to 0,07 mm in size. The ability to see smaller details of the matter is correlated with the development of the science and the comprehension of the nature. Today's science needs eyes for the nano-world. Examples are easily found in biology and medical sciences. There is a great need to determine shape, size, chemical composition, molecular structure and dynamic properties of nano-structures. To do this, microscopes with high spatial, spectral and temporal resolution are required. Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (SNOM) is a new step in the evolution of microscopy. The conventional, lens-based microscopes have their resolution limited by diffraction. SNOM is not subject to this limitation and can offer up to 70 times better resolution.
authors.affiliation: NRC-SIMS, 100 Sussex Drive, Rm 2109, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A OR6, Canada.
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vobornik
authors.forename: Slavenka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vobornik
mesh_terms: D008853:Microscopy / Q000639:trends; D020527:Microscopy, Scanning Probe / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods