Patent ID: 7501833

Claim:
An evanescent microwave microscopy probe, comprising: a center conductor comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the center conductor comprises a waveguide for microwave radiation; a probe tip affixed to the first end of the center conductor, wherein the probe tip is capable of acquiring a near-field microwave signal from a sample; an outer shield surrounding the center conductor, wherein the center conductor and the outer shield are in a generally coaxial relationship, wherein the outer shield comprises a first end and a second end corresponding to the first and second ends of the center conductor, and wherein the center conductor and the outer shield are not in direct contact such that a gap exists between the center conductor and the outer shield; an insulating material occupying at least a portion of the gap between the center conductor and the outer shield; an aperture located near the probe tip, wherein: the aperture comprises a copper or copper alloy plate, the copper or copper alloy plate comprising a thickness of about 0.010 inches, an inside face, an outside face, and a hole that allows the probe tip to be in microwave communication with a sample, and the aperture is oriented generally perpendicular to the center conductor; and a tuning network in electronic communication with the second end of the center conductor and with the outer shield, wherein the tuning network comprises a pair of capacitors in a parallel electronic relationship.