It is important to be able to image biological samples in a manner that is non-invasive and allows
the sample to retain its functionality during imaging.A member of the SPM (scanning probe microscopy) family, SNOM (scanning near-field optical microscopy), has emerged as a technique that allows optical and topographic imaging of biological samples whilst satisfying the above stated criteria. The basic operating principle of SNOM is as follows. Light is coupled down a fibre-optic probe with an output aperture of sub-wavelength dimensions. The probe is then scanned over the sample surface from a distance that is approximately equal to the size of its aperture. By this apparently simple arrangement, the diffraction limit posed by conventional optical microscopy is overcome and simultaneous generation of optical and topographic images of sub-wavelength resolution is made possible. Spatial resolution values of lOOnm in air and 60nm in liquid[1,2] are achievable with SNOM.
Spatial Resolution of Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy with Sub-Wavelength Aperture