Near-field scanning optical microscopy.

TL;DR: Several important advances are described in studying slow timescale biophysical processes such as protein folding of single, specifically immobilized proteins, and the future directions into which this field is expected to progress are discussed.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed the scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) technique, which combines the advantages offered by classical optical microscope with high resolution typical of scanning probe microscopy.

TL;DR: The means by which NSOM may be used to characterize molecular properties at the nanometric scale is rapidly diversifying, and is not merely limited to traditional fluorescence measurements.

TL;DR: The near-field optical interaction between a sharp probe and a sample of interest can be exploited to image, spectroscopically probe, or modify surfaces at a resolution inaccessible by traditional far-field techniques, resulting in a technique of considerable versatility.

TL;DR: A near-field probe has been developed that yields a resolution of ∼12 nm (∼λ/43) and signals ∼104- to 106-fold larger than those reported previously and image contrast is demonstrated to be highly polarization dependent.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a method for optical trapping and alignment of dielectric particles in aqueous environments at the nanometer scale based on the highly enhanced electric field close to a laser-illuminated metal tip and the strong mechanical forces and torque associated with these fields.

TL;DR: In this article, a method for extending microscopic resolution into the ultra-microscopic region was proposed, based on a method proposed by the London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science.