by Daniel Courjon (Université de Franche-Comté, France)

About the Author

Daniel Courjon is Director of Research at CNRS. Parallel to his research activity, he is also Director of the Institute of Microphone-techniques of Franche-Comté (IMFC), Director of Optical GDR and Deputy Manager of the GDR “Waves” of department STIC of CNRS.

Near-field optics studies the behaviour of light fields in the vicinity of matter, where light is structured in propagating and evanescent fields. Near-field optical microscopy is the straightforward application of near-field optics.

This textbook provides an overview for undergraduates and anyone who has an interest in peculiar optical phenomena, and serves as a technical manual for engineers and researchers. It consists of 12 chapters dealing with the history of near-field optics, non-radiating optics, optical noise, inverse problems, theory, instrumentation and applications; there is an appendix including the basic elements of Fourier optics and Maxwell equations.

• History of Near-field Optics
• Non-radiating Sources and Non-propagating Fields
• Evanescent Optics
• Theories and Modellings
• Inverse Problem and Apparatus Function
• Criteria of Quality, Noise and Artifacts
• Nano-collectors and Nano-emitters
• Instrumentation
• Main Near-field Microscope Configurations
• Near-field Image Processing
• Applications of Near-field Microscopy
• Appendix A:
  • Basis of Optics