Table of Contents

Near-Field Optics and the Surface Plasmon Polariton.- Near-Field Microscope Probes Utilizing Surface Plasmon Polaritons.- Apertureless Metallic Probes for Near-Field Microscopy.- Controlling Light Confinement by Excitation of Localized Surface Plasmons.- Spectroscopy of Gap Modes in Metal Particle—Surface Systems.- Near-Field Spectral Analysis of Metallic Beads.- Forces in Optical Near-Fields.- Laser Trapping of a Metallic Probe for Near Field Microscopy.- Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption.- Excitation of Surface Plasmon Polaritons by a Focused Laser Beam.