NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy of Soft, Biological, or Rough Objects in Aqueous Environment: Challenges and some Remedies to CircumventNear-field scanning optical microscopy is an established technique for sub-wavelength spatial resolution in imaging, spectroscopy, material science, surface chemistry, polarimetry, etc. A significant amount of confidence has been established for thin hard specimens in air. However when soft, biological, rough, in aqueous environment object, or a combination is involved, the progress has been slow. The tip-sample mechanical interaction, heat effects to sample, drag effects to the probe, difficulty in controlling tip-sample separation in case of rough objects, light scattering from sample thickness, etc. create problems. Although these problems are not even fully understood, there have been attempts to study them with the aim of performing reliable operations. In this review we describe these attempts. Starting with general problems encountered, various effects like polarization, thermal, and media are covered. The roles of independent tip-sample distance control tools in the relevant situations are then described. Finally progress in fluid cell aspect has been summarized.
Document ID
20000013283
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Vikram, C. S.
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL United States)
Witherow, W. K.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Subject Category
Inorganic, Organic And Physical Chemistry
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available