Abstract

A scanning-probe microscope tip externally illuminated with laser radiation was used for nanomodification of metal and plastic surfaces in air. A simplified schematic diagram is shown in Fig. 1. This FOLANT-technique (Focusing of Laserradiation in the Nearfield of a Tip) is based on a local intensity enhancement of optical radiation near a small object (curvature radius much smaller than the laser wavelength) with appropriate dielectric constant.

© 1996 Optical Society of America