Scanning plasmonic microscopy by image reconstruction from the Fourier space

Opt Express. 2012 Dec 17;20(27):28923-8. doi: 10.1364/OE.20.028923.

Abstract

We demonstrate a simple scheme for high-resolution imaging of nanoplasmonic structures that basically removes most of the resolution limiting allowed light usually transmitted to the far field. This is achieved by implementing a Fourier lens in a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) operating in the leakage-radiation microscopy (LRM) mode. The method consists of reconstructing optical images solely from the plasmonic 'forbidden' light collected in the Fourier space. It is demonstrated by using a point-like nanodiamond-based tip that illuminates a thin gold film patterned with a sub-wavelength annular slit. The reconstructed image of the slit shows a spatial resolution enhanced by a factor ~/= 4 compared to NSOM images acquired directly in the real space.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / methods*