Breaking the femtogram barrier using scanning near-field infrared microscopy (SNIM)

摘要

Abstract: The recent development of Scanning Near-Field IR Microscopy (SNIM) has resulted in the first ever high-resolution IR images of single living cells. We discuss extensions of this method using table-top tunable OPO-based ultrafast lasers and other tunable lasers as sources. Vibrational spectral provide an intrinsic mechanism of contrast in biological systems, without the need for any radioactive or fluorescent labels. Using the capability of SNIM for obtaining sub- wavelength resolution images and spectral allows for breaking of the femtogram barrier in biological systems. This provides a new technique for imaging sub-cellular features, and characterization of a single bacterium. !13