Development of a Scanning Plasmon Resonant Probe Microscope for Ultra Resolution of Fluorescent, Raman, and Immuno- Labeled Molecules

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9724535 Schultz A scanning plasmon resonant probe microscope will be developed at the University of California-San Diego. The microscope utilizes individual, sub-micron metal particles that exhibit well-defined plasmon resonance (PR) scattering of light as probes or scanning tip element. The PR particles act as "point source" (about 50 nanometers in size) optical transducers that feature enhanced local electric fields. In the near-field configuration, instrument design goals include down to 10 nanometer resolution for the scanning microscope working in either of three spectroscopic modes: surface enhanced Raman, surface enhanced fluorescence and two-photon excitations (fluorescence or Raman). State-of-the-art experimental techniques involved include nanolithographic preparation of metal particles, nanofabrication of ultrathin SiN window substrates, and design and construction of a 1 nanometer-precision, 100 micron-scanning range, ultra- stable scanning stage. %%% The development program involves the participation of graduate and undergraduate students, and post-doctoral associates in the design, construction and testing of advanced instrumentation. Applications of the microscope in the material and biological sciences include sub-wavelength resolution of Raman signals from wear-track residues in magnetic disk drives and motor protein motion. ***