Aurora-2 User’s Manual
C H A P T E R
Preface
I
NTRODUCTION
The Aurora-2 is a Near-field Scanning Optical Microscope (NSOM). NSOM is an optical
microscopy technique that offers higher resolution limits than confocal microscopy.
Because NSOM combines optical and scanning probe microscopy, sample surface
chemistry can be imaged and analyzed simultaneously with surface topography measure-
ments. The ability to gather topographic data while producing an optical image is useful in
material characterization and analysis.
It is important to read this manual and be familiar with the Aurora-2 instrument to facilitate
more productive and efficient use of NSOM as a research tool.
A
BOUT
THIS
MANUAL
Chapter 1 provides an overview of the theory of NSOM and how it is applied in the
Aurora-2 instrument. Chapter 2 describes the Aurora-2 instrument components and set-up.
Chapters 3 and 4 provide step-by-step instructions for taking a topographic scan and an
NSOM scan, respectively, of the standard sample.
This manual covers those aspects of the SPMLab software that are specific to the Aurora-
2 configuration. For a thorough understanding of how to use the software, the user should
refer to the SPMLab Software Reference Manual.
Summary of Contents for Aurora-2
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