Methods and apparatus for producing small, bright nanometric light sources from apertures that are smaller than the wavelength of the emitted light. Light is directed at a surface layer of metal onto a light barrier structure that includes one or more apertures each of which directs a small spot of
Methods and apparatus for producing small, bright nanometric light sources from apertures that are smaller than the wavelength of the emitted light. Light is directed at a surface layer of metal onto a light barrier structure that includes one or more apertures each of which directs a small spot of light onto a target. The incident light excites surface plasmons (electron density fluctuations) in the top metal surface layer and this energy couples through the apertures to the opposing surface where it is emitted as light from the apertures or from the rims of the apertures. Means are employed to prevent or severely limit the extent to which surface plasmons are induced on the surface at the aperture exit, thereby constraining the resulting emissions to small target areas. The resulting small spot illumination may be used to increase the resolution of microscopes and photolithographic processes, increase the storage capacity and performance of optical data storage systems, and analyze the properties of small objects such as protein and nucleic acid molecules and single cells.
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What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object comprising, a source of electromagnetic radiation, a radiation detector, a substantially planar light barrier interposed between said source and said radiation detector, said light barrier including a first electrically conduc
What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object comprising, a source of electromagnetic radiation, a radiation detector, a substantially planar light barrier interposed between said source and said radiation detector, said light barrier including a first electrically conductive surface on which the electromagnetic radiation from said source is incident, and at least one aperture through said light barrier, said aperture having a width in at least one dimension that is smaller than one wavelength of said electromagnetic radiation, at least some of said electromagnetic radiation passing from said source through said aperture to said radiation detector, wherein: a presence of said at least one small object in close proximity to said first electrically conductive surface causes a change in a resonance condition of said light barrier; said change in the resonance condition of said light barrier causes variations in said electromagnetic radiation; and said radiation detector is positioned with respect to the light barrier to receive said electromagnetic radiation exiting from the light barrier without significant alterations to said variations, so as to detect said variations in said electromagnetic radiation resulting from the change in the resonance condition of said light barrier due to the presence of said at least one small object in close proximity to said first electrically conductive surface. 2. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light barrier further includes a second surface on an opposite side of said barrier from said first electrically conductive surface, said second surface being adjacent to said radiation detector, wherein said aperture passes from said first surface to said second surface, and wherein said barrier further includes means for limiting the extent of electronic excitation induced in said second surface in the vicinity of said aperture by the incident light from said source. 3. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for limiting the extent of the electronic excitation induced in said second surface in the vicinity of said apertures comprises a barrier material that is opaque to the transmission of said electromagnetic radiation formed in said light barrier and positioned between said first electrically conductive surface and said second surface. 4. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first electrically conductive surface is formed by a layer of conductive metal having a thickness greater than the skin depth of said metal at the frequency of said electromagnetic radiation. 5. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object as set forth in claim 1 wherein said small object is positioned adjacent to said first electrically conductive surface in a vicinity of said at least one aperture. 6. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object as set forth in claim 1 wherein said small object is contained in a fluid and wherein the apparatus further comprises a reservoir for holding said fluid, said reservoir being positioned adjacent to said first electrically conductive surface. 7. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one binding object to which said small object is attached, said binding object being immobilized adjacent to said first electrically conductive surface. 8. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object as set forth in claim 7 wherein said binding object binds to said first electrically conductive surface. 9. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object as set forth in claim 8 wherein said binding object includes at least one ligand. 10. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object as set forth in claim 8 wherein an attachment of said small object to said binding object changes the resonance condition of said light barrier. 11. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object set forth in claim 1 wherein said aperture has a width in at least one direction that is between 2 nm and the dimension defined by the Rayleigh criterion for said frequency of electromagnetic radiation. 12. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object as set forth in claim 1 wherein said barrier comprises a metallic film affixed to a substrate that is transparent to said electromagnetic radiation. 13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said aperture extends through said metallic film but not through said substrate. 14. Apparatus for analyzing at least one small object as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a transparent support member to which said small object is attached. 15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said small object is a macromolecule. 16. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said small object is a biological macromolecule. 17. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said small object is a protein complex. 18. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said small object is post-translational modification of a protein or a protein complex. 19. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said small object is a binding of a protein to a nucleic acid. 20. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said small object is a biological organism. 21. Apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said small object is a spore. 22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said small object is a protein molecule. 23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said small object is a nucleic acid molecule. 24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said small object is a single cell. 25. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said variations in said electromagnetic radiation include intensity variations. 26. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said variations in said electromagnetic radiation include variations in a spectrum of said electromagnetic radiation. 27. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said variations in said electromagnetic radiation include changes in an emission pattern of the radiation impinging on said radiation detector. 28. Apparatus for analyzing small objects comprising, in combination, a source of electromagnetic radiation, a radiation detector, a substantially planar light barrier interposed between said source and said radiation detector, said light barrier defining a first electrically conductive surface on the side of said barrier exposed to incident light from said source, at least one aperture through said light barrier, said aperture having a width in at least one dimension that is smaller than one wavelength of said electromagnetic radiation and larger than said small objects, means for causing said small objects to migrate through said aperture, and means coupled to said radiation detector for measuring variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through said aperture as said small objects migrate through said aperture. 29. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said light barrier further defines a second surface on the opposite side of said barrier, said second surface being adjacent to said radiation detector, wherein said aperture passes from said first surface to said second surface, and wherein said barrier further comprises means for limiting the extent of electronic excitation induced in said second surface in the vicinity of said aperture by the incident light from said source. 30. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 29 wherein said means for limiting the extent of the electronic excitation induced in said second surface in the vicinity of said apertures comprises a barrier material that is opaque to the transmission of said electromagnetic radiation formed in said light barrier and positioned between said first electrically conductive surface and said second surface. 31. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 29 wherein said first electrically conductive surface is formed by a layer of conductive metal having a thickness greater than the skin depth of said metal at the frequency of said electromagnetic radiation. 32. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 31 wherein said layer of conductive metal extends into the interior side walls of each of said aperture terminating at said second surface in a limited area in the vicinity of said aperture. 33. Apparatus as set forth in claim 28 wherein said aperture has a width in at least one direction that is between 2 nm and the dimension defined by the Rayleigh criterion for said frequency of electromagnetic radiation. 34. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein barrier comprises a dielectric that exhibits a bandgap that is larger than the frequency of said electromagnetic radiation. 35. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said electrically conductive surface is constructed of a layer of a first metal and wherein said barrier material is a different metal characterized in that said conductive surface and said barrier material have substantially different resonances. 36. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said electrically conductive surface is formed by metallic layer affixed to a substrate that is transparent to said electromagnetic radiation. 37. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said small objects are macromolecules. 38. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said small objects are biological macromolecules. 39. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said small objects are protein molecules. 40. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said small objects are nucleic acid molecules. 41. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said small objects are single cells. 42. Apparatus set forth in claim 28 wherein said small object is a protein complex. 43. Apparatus set forth in claim 28 wherein said small object is post-translational modification of a protein or a protein complex. 44. Apparatus set forth in claim 28 wherein said small object includes a protein bound to a nucleic acid. 45. Apparatus set forth in claim 28 wherein said small object is a biological organism. 46. Apparatus set forth in claim 28 wherein said small object is a spore. 47. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said means coupled to said radiation detector for measuring variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through said aperture as said small objects migrate through said aperture comprises means for measuring changes in the intensity of the radiation passing through said aperture. 48. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said means coupled to said radiation detector for measuring variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through said aperture as said small objects migrate through said aperture comprises means for measuring changes in resonance which alters the amount of the electromagnetic energy passing through said aperture as said small objects migrate through said aperture of the radiation passing through said aperture. 49. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 37 wherein said means for measuring changers in resonance includes means for measuring variations in the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation vs. the wavelength of said radiation. 50. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said means coupled to said radiation detector for measuring variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through said aperture as said small objects migrate through said aperture comprises means for measuring changes in the emission pattern of the radiation passing through said aperture to said radiation detector. 51. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said means coupled to said radiation detector for measuring variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through said aperture as said small objects migrate through said aperture comprises means for measuring changes in the intensity of the radiation passing through said aperture due to the absorption of radiation by said small objects. 52. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said means coupled to said radiation detector for measuring variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through said aperture as said small objects migrate through said aperture comprises means for measuring the fluorescence of said small objects which are exposed to said electromagnetic radiation. 53. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 52 wherein said means for measuring the fluorescence of said small objects comprises means for measuring the spectral content of the radiation detected by said radiation detector. 54. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said means coupled to said radiation detector for measuring variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through said aperture as said small objects migrate through said aperture comprises means for measuring said variations as each of said small objects occupies a different position with respect to said aperture. 55. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said small objects are electrically charged and wherein means for causing said small objects to migrate through said aperture comprises a source of an electrostatic field. 56. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 28 wherein said small objects are contained in a liquid carrier and wherein said means for causing said small objects to migrate through said aperture comprises a source of fluid pressure applied to said liquid carrier. 57. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 56 wherein said source of fluid pressure comprises a fluidics supply system providing a fluid passageway coupled to said aperture for conveying said liquid carrier and said small objects through said aperture. 58. Apparatus for analyzing small objects as set forth in claim 57 wherein said means coupled to said radiation detector for measuring variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through said aperture as said small objects migrate through said aperture comprises means for measuring said electromagnetic energy when said liquid carrier alone is in said aperture and measuring said electromagnetic energy when said liquid carrier and at least one of said small objects is in or adjacent to said aperture. 59. A measurement instrument for concurrently analyzing a plurality of biological macromolecules, said device comprising, combination, a source of electromagnetic radiation, a substantially planar light barrier positioned between said source and said target, said light barrier being opaque to said electromagnetic radiation, defining a first surface facing said source and a second surface facing said target, and further comprising of a layer of metal affixed to said first surface, an array of apertures through said light barrier, each of said apertures having a width in at least one direction which is shorter than the wavelength of said electromagnetic radiation and wider than the size of said macromolecules, means for causing said biological macromolecules to migrate through said apertures, and sensing means for detecting variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through at least selected ones of said apertures as said biological macromolecules migrate through said selected ones of said apertures. 60. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said layer of metal has a thickness at least as large as the skin depth of said metal at the frequency of said electromagnetic radiation. 61. The device set forth in claim 59 wherein said metal is selected from a group consisting of gold, silver, aluminum, beryllium, rhenium, osmium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, rhenium oxide, tungsten oxide, and copper. 62. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said light barrier further defines a second surface on the opposite side of said barrier, said second surface being adjacent to said sensing means, and wherein each of said apertures passes from said first surface to said second surface, and wherein said barrier further comprises means for limiting the extent of electronic excitation induced in said second surface in the vicinity of each of said apertures by the incident light from said source. 63. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 62 wherein said means for limiting the extent of the electronic excitation induced in said second surface in the vicinity of said apertures comprises a barrier material that is opaque to the transmission of said electromagnetic radiation formed in said light barrier and positioned between said first electrically conductive surface and said second surface. 64. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein each of said apertures has a width in at least one direction that is between 2 nm and the dimension defined by the Rayleigh criterion for said frequency of electromagnetic radiation. 65. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said layer of metal is affixed to a substrate that is transparent to said electromagnetic radiation. 66. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said biological macromolecules are protein molecules. 67. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said biological macromolecules are protein molecules. 68. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said biological macromolecules are nucleic acid molecules. 69. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said sensing means for detecting variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through at least selected ones of said apertures comprises means for measuring changes in the intensity of the radiation passing through said selected ones of said apertures. 70. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said sensing means for detecting variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through at least selected ones of said apertures comprises means for measuring changes in resonance which alters the amount of the electromagnetic energy passing through said apertures as said macromolecules migrate through said apertures. 71. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said means for measuring changers in resonance includes means for measuring variations in the intensity of said electromagnetic radiation passing through said apertures vs. the wavelength of said radiation. 72. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said sensing means for detecting variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through at least selected ones of said apertures comprises means for measuring changes in the emission pattern of the radiation passing through said apertures to said sensing means. 73. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said sensing means for detecting variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through at least selected ones of said apertures comprises means for measuring changes in the intensity of the radiation passing through said selected ones of said apertures due to the absorption of radiation by said macromolecules. 74. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said sensing means for detecting variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through at least selected ones of said apertures comprises means for measuring the fluorescence of macromolecules that are exposed to said electromagnetic radiation. 75. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said sensing means for detecting variations in the electromagnetic energy passing through at least selected ones of said apertures comprises means for said variations as said macromolecules occupy a different positions with respect to said apertures. 76. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said biological macromolecules are electrically charged and wherein means for causing said small objects to migrate through said aperture comprises a source of an electrostatic field. 77. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 59 wherein said biological macromolecules are contained in a liquid carrier and wherein said means for causing said macromolecules to migrate through said aperture comprises a source of fluid pressure applied to said liquid carrier. 78. A measurement instrument as set forth in claim 77 wherein said source of fluid pressure comprises a fluidics supply system providing a fluid passageway coupled to said aperture for conveying said liquid carrier and said macromolecules through said apertures. 79. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the change in the resonance condition results from a change in a dielectric constant of a medium adjacent to said first electrically conductive surface due to the presence of said at least one small object in close proximity to said first electrically conductive surface. 80. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the change in the resonance condition results from a change in an effective dielectric constant of said first electrically conductive surface due to the presence of said at least one small object in close proximity to said first electrically conductive surface. 81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein said first electrically conductive surface includes at least one binding object to facilitate a binding of said at least one small object to said first electrically conductive surface, and wherein the change in the effective dielectric constant of said first electrically conductive surface results from the binding of said at least one small object to said first electrically conductive surface. 82. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one small object includes a fluid. 83. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the fluid includes a buffer solution. 84. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the change in the resonance condition results from a change in a dielectric constant of the fluid. 85. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one microfluidic system to facilitate a flow of fluid in close proximity to said first electrically conductive surface. 86. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein the fluid includes the at least one small object.
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