Near field scanning optical microscope.

摘要

A near field scanning optical microscope based on a new principle, having higher resolution, is provided. The apparatus of the invention is comprised of at least an optical fiber 3 whose head portion is covered by an energy acceptor 6, a prism on which a sample which contains an energy donator 7 or is covered by the energy donator 7 is placed, a XY-axis transfer mechanism 9, XY-axis control mechanism 10, Z-axis transfer mechanism 11, Z-axis control mechanism 12, light source 13, optical system 14, and optical detecting system 15, and high resolution surface observation may be carried out by utilizing a phenomenon that a distance dependency of energy transfer efficiency from the energy donator excited by light to the energy acceptor is caused neighboring region as compare to intensity distribution of evanescent light. Energy acceptors may be monomolecular films of N,N'-dioctadecyl thiadicarbocyanin or N,N'-dioctadecyl thiacyanin pigment, donators may be monomolecular films of N,N'-dioctadecyl oxacyanin pigment.