apertureless near-field scanning optical microscopy scanning plasmon near-field microscopy Microscopy where a laser spot is focused on a solid sharp noble metal probe very close to (<10 nm from) the surface of the specimen. The laser spot excites plasmons at the probe-surface interface and an image is produced by scanning the probe over the specimen and detecting the electromagnetic field as a function of position. A force feedback loop is used to maintain a fixed relationship between the probe and surface during scanning. scanning-plasmon near-field microscopy CHMO:0000125 SPNM