Transmission line probe based on a bow-tie antenna.

A high transmission probe for scanning near-field optical microscopy is discussed that is based on a bow-tie antenna. The proposed design of the transmission line probe relies on batch-fabricated hollow pyramidal silicon dioxide tips that are partly coated with aluminium to accomplish the tapered dipole antenna. Theoretical calculations of the field distribution were performed to investigate its optical properties. Results were compared with those of conventional aperture tips based on the same silicon dioxide tip configuration, and revealed unique properties with respect to the transmission efficiency.