Abstract

Subwavelength tips are ideal for mapping light propagation in nanoscopic geometries such as photonic crystal resonators [1]. In a Scanning Near-field Optical Microscope (SNOM), such a tip is scanned in the evanescent part of the cavity mode and directs a small amount of the resonator light onto the detector. Thus, some light is clearly lost from the resonator in this process, raising the question of the influence of the tip on high-Q microcavities. On a different note, one might wonder whether the microresonator can modify the radiation properties of a nano-object that is coupled to it. We have addressed these issues in various experimental and theoretical works.

© 2009 IEEE