Method device and system for optical near-field scanning microscopy of test specimens in liquids

A device for optical near-field scanning microscopy of a test specimen in a liquid, comprising;

• a liquid cell that holds said liquid and said test specimen therein;
• a fiber optic having an optical fiber tip that is disposed in said liquid within a predetermined distance range relative to said specimen;
• a vibration element mechanically coupled to said optical fiber tip that causes said optical fiber tip to vibrate;
• a light source that produces light having a wavelength, said light following a path through said liquid cell and said liquid and focused on said optical fiber tip which diffracts a portion of light so as to produce a diffraction pattern downstream of said light source and said optical fiber tip, the liquid and the liquid cell being transparent at the wavelength of the light;
• a light detector which detects the diffraction pattern and outputs a corresponding detection signal;
• and
• a controller configured to control the distance range between the optical fiber tip and specimen surface in response to receiving the detection signal.

A system for performing in-situ optical near-field scanning microscopy of a test specimen in a liquid comprising:

• a liquid cell which holds said liquid and said test specimen therein;
• a fiber optic having an optical fiber tip disposed in said liquid within a predetermined distance range relative to said specimen;
• a vibration element mechanically coupled to said optical fiber tip that causes said optical fiber tip to vibrate laterally;
• a light source that produces light having a wavelength, said light following a path through said liquid and said liquid cell and focused on said optical fiber tip which diffracts a portion of light so as to produce a diffraction pattern downstream of said light source and said optical fiber tip, the liquid and the vessel being transparent at the wavelength of the light;
• a light detector which detects the diffraction pattern and outputs a corresponding detection signal, said detection signal varying in response to changes in said surface of said specimen as a result of in-situ processes performed on said specimen;
• and
• a controller configured to maintain the distance between the optical fiber tip and specimen surface within the predetermined distance range in response to receiving the detection signal.

A system for performing in-situ optical near-field scanning microscopy of a test specimen in a liquid comprising:

• a liquid cell which holds said liquid and said test specimen therein;
• a fiber optic means having probe means disposed in said liquid within a predetermined distance range relative to said specimen;
• vibration means mechanically coupled to said probe means that causes said probe means to vibrate laterally;
• a light source that produces light having a wavelength, said light following a path through said liquid and said liquid cell and focused on said probe means which diffracts a portion of light so as to produce a diffraction pattern downstream of said light source and said probe means, the liquid and the vessel being transparent at the wavelength of the light;
• detection means for detecting the diffraction pattern and outputting a corresponding detection signal, said detection signal varying in response to changes in said surface of said specimen as a result of in-situ processes performed on said specimen;
• and
• control means for maintaining the distance between the probe means and specimen surface within the predetermined distance range in response to receiving the detection signal.