Observation of Optical Near-Field as Photo-Induced Surface Relief Formation

Abstract

The spatial distribution and the polarization condition of the optical near-field has successfully been visualized for the first time. It is realized in connection with the photo-induced surface relief formation on the azobenzene functionalized polymer film that had been reported so far only on the optical far-field condition. In this study, the observation was performed for linear and circular polarized light irradiation. The proposed technique is considered to be as a simple and an effective method to analyze the optical near-field.