Open AccessPlasmon mediated confocal dark-field microscopy
Author(s) -
Marcus Schmelzeisen,
Jacqueline Austermann,
Maximilian Kreiter
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.017826
Subject(s) - optics , dark field microscopy , surface plasmon , point spread function , plasmon , confocal microscopy , confocal , microscopy , materials science , excitation , physics , quantum mechanics
An efficient mode for scanning confocal dark-field microscopy through a thin gold film is established that takes advantage of the intermediate excitation of surface plasmons both in the excitation and in the emission process. This concept is verified by experimental investigation of the effective point-spread function, the intensity distribution of the scattered radiation and by comparison with a classical dark-field geometry. The wavelength-dependence of both the signal strength and the point-spread function are discussed.