High Resolution, Subwavelength Distance Measurements: a Variable-Angle, Standing-Wave, Total-Internal-Reflection Optical Microscope

Two incoming laser beams enter at an angle above that for total internal reflection creating a standing evanescent wave. Light emitted by fluorescent, quantum dot, or other marker can then be nulled. By measuring the relative phase and the incoming beam angle, theta, precision distance measurements can be made. Gold spheres yield resolutions approaching 10nm.


 

A. Haynie, T-j Min, L. Luan, W-q Mu and J. B. Ketterson

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The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) is supported by the National Science Foundation under NSF Award Number DMR-0520513. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation.
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