Kopelman The novel methods of near-field-optics (NFO) present an opportunity for spatial superresolution in optical and spectroscopic measurements. Visible light imaging and probing of single molecules has become a reality. The recent work is utilized towards the following aims: 1) Characterization of interfacial domains in molecular nanostructures, using ultra-fast near-field optical imaging and nanospectroscopy as well as tip-to-single-molecule energy transfer (Forster-Dexter) and spin-orbit coupling (Kasha), ultimately measuring individual molecule matrix elements. 2) Development and study of ordered single supermolecule light and energy antenna and their utilization as scanning optical probes, to be used towards the above aims. 3) An experimental study of the enigmatic light-matter interactions in the near-field-optics domain, with applications to the above nano-domain and single molecule studies. 4) Utilization of our molecularly engineered, optically active and photostable, ordered supermolecule for the production of a new, higher efficiency light emitting diode (LED). %%% We have recently developed new optical nano-probes and nano-imaging techniques. These are particularly appropriate for mesoscopic or submicroscopic optical studies. The proposed research is committed to both the further development of these techniques and to their utilization for the study of basic problems: excitations at interfaces and nanostructures, molecular aggregates and even single molecules. The techniques combine time-resolved spectroscopy, near-field optical microscopy, scanning force microscopy and nanofabrication. The goals are to solve some long-standing basic problems of excitation dynamics as well as some newly emerging questions on the interaction of light and matter in the near field and on kinetic processes involving nanosystems and single molecules. Ultimately, these studies are of major interest to biology, medicine, chemistry and materials science.
