9623949 Schultz This project will focus on the development of advanced instrumentation in two areas. In the first, we will utilize a 50nm plasmon resonant particle as the optical transducer to achieve scanning near-field microscopy in the fluorescent, luminescent, and Raman modes. We expect this development to have significant applications in the electronics, chemical, and bio-medical research and industrial communities. In the second area, we will apply the most sensitive technique for the efficient detection of superconductivity to a systematic search for new high Tc alloys using phase spread samples. %%% This project will focus on the development of advanced instrumentation for commercial application in two important areas. The first is a new type of optical microscope which will offer a breakthrough in resolution and sensitivity of detection for many bio-medical tests and research needs. The second will utilize the most sensitive and economical screening procedure which we have developed for the discovery of new high temperature superconductors. Rapid technology transfer in both areas can be expected via subsequent cooperative SBIR projects. ***