Design and Implementation of a Near-field Scanning Optical Module for Inverted Microscopes

Abstract

This dissertation describes the design and implementation of a home-built near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) module for inverted microscopes. In this design, the NSOM module is built atop an inverted fluorescence microscope. This is particularly well suited for applications in which the normal imaging modes of the inverted microscope are still required to locate and study the sample before performing NSOM experiments. This module is used as a near-field instrument for nanostructure investigation of various samples including plane-ruled reflection gratings, AFM calibration standards, nanospheres and gold nanoparticles. In addition, we will demonstrate the ability to achieve nanometer-scale surface modification of specific polymer films using this technique.