Laser scanning microscope for low temperature single molecule and microscale spectroscopy based on gradient index optics

Abstract
A scanning optical microscope for low temperature imaging and spectroscopy with a gradient index rod-shaped microlens as an objective lens is presented. The solid immersion effect enhances the resolution to 310 nm of the full-width at half-maximum at the wavelength of 545 nm. Laser scanning mechanism located outside an optical cryostat enables to achieve large scanning ranges independent of temperature. The performance is demonstrated at 1.6 K on single molecules of terrylene in a dodecane crystal and on molecular J aggregates in thin polymer films.