Multi-wavelength heterodyne-detected scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy

We report on the implementation of a scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscope based on a heterodyne detection scheme, which has the ability to record near-field optical images at multiple wavelengths simultaneously. It is used to map out local field distribution and to investigate the dispersion behavior of plasmon created by nanometer-scale metallic structures. It opens up an unprecedented opportunity to study nano-photonics.