Near-field optics: from subwavelength illumination to nanometric shadowing

Nat Biotechnol. 2003 Nov;21(11):1378-86. doi: 10.1038/nbt898.

Abstract

Near-field optics uniquely addresses problems of x, y and z resolution by spatially confining the effect of a light source to nanometric domains. The problems in using far-field optics (conventional optical imaging through a lens) to achieve nanometric spatial resolution are formidable. Near-field optics serves a bridging role in biology between optical imaging and scanned probe microscopy. The integration of near-field and scanned probe imaging with far-field optics thus holds promise for solving the so-called inverse problem of optical imaging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Delivery of Health Care, Integrated
  • Equipment Design
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / methods*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / trends
  • Microscopy, Confocal / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods*
  • Microscopy, Confocal / trends
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / trends
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Nanotechnology / trends
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / instrumentation
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / trends