Very high resolution near-field chemical imaging using an infrared free electron laser
High resolution infrared imaging of thin films and biological systems is one of the most challenging experimental problems in contemporary science and technology. In this work, we have for the first time successfully tested a novel high resolution approach, based on a spectroscopic version of scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). The coupling of the Vanderbilt Free Electron Laser tunable infrared radiation to SNOM apparatus enabled us to clearly reveal different chemical constituents on a growth medium for biofilm. The images were obtained by SNOM detection of reflected 6.95 mum photons, corresponding to the stretch absorption of sulfur and nitrogen compounds, constituents of the growth medium. We attained a lateral resolution of 0.2 mum (lambda/35), well below the diffraction limit of classical microscopy.
WOS:000176246700037
2002
4
12
2738
2741
Ist Struttura Mat, I-00133 Rome, Italy. Ecole Polytech Fed Lausanne, Inst Phys Appl, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. USN, Res Lab, Div Opt Sci, Washington, DC 20375 USA. Vanderbilt Univ, Dept Phys & Astron, Nashville, TN 37235 USA. Cricenti, A, Ist Struttura Mat, Via Fosso Cavaliere 100, I-00133 Rome, Italy.
ISI Document Delivery No.: 563FY
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