title: Tip preparation for near-field ablation at mid-infrared wavelengths.
abstract: A fabrication method for high-throughput, fiber-based tips for near-field scanning microscopy (NSOM) in the mid-infrared (λ ~ 3 μm) has been developed. Several fiber materials have been investigated and recipes for wet-chemical etching have been varied to produce tips that are physically robust and are capable of low-loss transmission of high-power pulses of mid-infrared light. Ultimately, wet-chemical etching techniques are used on glass fibers to produce tips capable of focusing mid-infrared light to ablate material from sub-micron-sized regions of organic films. The power throughput of the tips is significantly increased by using a novel material, previously unreported for NSOM applications: germanate fibers. The tips produced are mechanically strong and capable of transmitting high light fluence without sustaining physical damage. Here, the development of these tips and their performance are described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA.
authors.forename: Joan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gamari
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raghu
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Reeves