ABSTRACT
At the beginning, near-field optics was devoted for ultra-high resolution optical microscopy. However, it has been quickly realized that near-field optics can open a new frontier in nanooptical science and technology. With near-field optics, physicists, chemists, biologists, and engineers have a tool in hand to observe, understand, and control nanometer scale structures. Applications using near-field light are increasingly expanding. Some of those applications are as follows:
• Ultrahigh-resolution optical imaging spectroscopy • Luminescent spectrum of single quantum wells, quantum wires and
quantum dot in semiconductor • Fluorescent spectrum of biological cells, single molecules or DNA • Surface plasmon and local field enhancement • Near-field femto second study • Atom trapping and manipulation • High-resolution magnetic imaging using the magneto-optic Kerr or
Faraday effects • Nano-Raman scattering or infrared spectroscopy for chemical iden-
tity, material phase or stress • Subwavelength photolithography • Nanofabrication and deposition using near-field light • Ultra-high density near-field optical data storage
Theoretical works on near-field optics and interaction of near-field light with materials on a nanometric scale are also becoming more applicable.
