Wide angle near-field optical probes by reverse tube etching

Ultramicroscopy
S PatanèM Allegrini

Abstract

We present a simple modification of the tube etching process for the fabrication of fiber probes for near-field optical microscopy. It increases the taper angle of the probe by a factor of two. The novelty is that the fiber is immersed in hydrofluoric acid and chemically etched in an upside-down geometry. The tip formation occurs inside the micrometer tube cavity formed by the polymeric jacket. By applying this approach, called reverse tube etching, to multimode fibers with 200/250 microm core/cladding diameter, we have fabricated tapered regions featuring high surface smoothness and average cone angles of approximately 30 degrees . A simple model based on the crucial role of the gravity in removing the etching products, explains the tip formation process.

Citations

Sep 8, 2011·The Review of Scientific Instruments·Y K CheongH Ahmad
Nov 6, 2007·The Review of Scientific Instruments·F BonaccorsoG Sabatino
Aug 6, 2007·Optics Express·M C Quong, A Y Elezzabi
Jul 5, 2012·The Review of Scientific Instruments·Yasser KhanBoon S Ooi
May 6, 2019·Optics Express·Yevhenii M MorozovZi-Chun Le

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