Satoshi Kawata
Professor, Osaka University

　We propose to develop a new analytical nanoscope that uses surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) as a nano-probe. SPPs are collective oscillation of electrons excited locally in metal nano structures. Our microscopy uses 1) locally enhanced electromagnetic field provided by SPPs and 2) perturbation of optical responses induced by the mechanical interactions between the probe and the sample with typical probe-applied force of the order of nano-Newton, which enables one to perform nano-analysis and imaging of nano-materials.