Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy

Scanning near-field optical microscopy, or SNOM, is an advanced form of microscopy which can produce images with a resolution much greater than that obtained from standard optical microscopes. Rather than use transmitted or reflected light, like traditional microscopy, it uses the evanescent field produced by illuminating samples in a particular way, which is typically collected by a very small aperture on the end of a sharp tip. The resolution of such a microscope is limited by the aperture size, rather than the wavelength of the light.

Our group uses this technique to explore the properties of fibres and waveguides. Over the last few years we have studied fibre Bragg gratings, microstructured fibres, and supercontinuum generation in waveguides. Within the group we have unique capabilities in the combination of SNOM with ultrafast science, having developed an instrument that combines high time resolution using femtosecond lasers with high spatial resolution using SNOM. The group uses the facilities of the ORC ‘s FAST lab for femtosecond measurements.

Currently the group is working on the theoretical basis of nonlinear continuum generation in multimode waveguides, with a recent paper accepted at CLEO Europe 07 in collaboration with Peter Horak. Also, we are progressing with using spectral interferometry to provide a time profile of a femtosecond pulse propagating through a waveguide system, funded by an ORC innovation fund grant.

Recent work has looked at the process by which nonlinear continuum generation increases along the length of an optical waveguide, by looking at the spectrum and the shape of the optical mode as a function of position. This work has been published in Optics Letters and Applied physics letters, as well as being presented at CLEO 06 and NFO-9.

To search for more publications visit our publications database

3767 — T.Chaipiboonwong, P.Horak, J.D.Mills, W.S.Brocklesby, Numerical study of nonlinear interactions in a multimode waveguide, Optics Express 2007

3741 — T.Chaipiboonwong, P.Horak, J.D.Mills, W.S.Brocklesby, Numerical simulation of continuum generation in a multimode nonlinear waveguide, CLEO/Europe-IQEC 2007 Munich 17-22 Jun 2007 CD10-2-FRI (accepted)

3451 — J.D.Mills, T.Chaipiboonwong, W.S.Brocklesby, J.J.Baumberg, M.D.B.Charlton, M.E.Zoorob, M.C.Netti, Spectral evolution of femtosecond pulses in nonlinear waveguides: measing continuum generation and group velocity with NSOM, NFO-9 Lausanne 10-15 Sep 2006 312 (click here to download)

3395 — J.D.Mills, T.Chaipiboonwong, M.D.B.Charlton, M.E.Zoorob, C.Netti, J.J.Baumberg, W.S.Brocklesby, Observation of the developing optical continuum along a nonlinear waveguide, Optics Letters 2006 Vol.31(16) pp.2459-2461

3394 — J.D.Mills, T.Chaipiboonwong, M.D.B.Charlton, C.Netti, M.E.Zoorob, J.J.Baumberg, W.S.Brocklesby, Group velocity measurement using spectral interference in near-field scanning optical microscopy, Applied Physics Letters 2006 Vol.89 pp.051101/1 - 051101-3

3356 — J.D.Mills, T.Chaipiboonwong, M.D.B.Charlton, M.E.Zoorob, M.C.Netti, J.J.Baumberg, W.S.Brocklesby, Waveguide group velocity determination by spectral interference measurements in near-field optical scanning microscopy, CLEO/QELS 2006 Long Beach, California 21-25 May 2006 QTuA1 (click here to download)

3355 — T.Chaipiboonwong, J.D.Mills, M.D.B.Charlton, M.E.Zoorob, M.C.Netti, J.J.Baumberg, W.S.Brocklesby, Visualization of optical continuum evolution along a nonlinear waveguide, CLEO/QELS 2006 Long Beach, California 21-25 May 2006 QFE5 (click here to download)

April 07 - Researchers from the Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy Group have just had their paper accepted for CLEO Europe 2007 which will be held in Munich. They will present their paper entitled 'Numerical simulation of continuum generation in a multimode nonlinear waveguide' at the conference in June.