An optical device for determining at least one signal light component
being characteristic for an optical near-field interaction of a probe
with an object to be investigated, wherein the near-field interaction is
subjected to a fundamental modulation at a fundamental frequency .OMEGA.,
comprises an interferometer device with an illumination light path (I)
being directed to the probe, a reference light path (II) being directed
to a detector device for obtaining detector output signals including
signal light components, and a signal light path (III) being directed
from the probe to the detector device, wherein the reference and signal
light paths (II, III) are superimposed at the detector device, and a
demodulation device for determining the signal light components by
demodulating the detector output signals, wherein the reference light
path (II) does not contain the probe, an interferometer phase modulator
is arranged in the reference light path (II) or signal light path (III)
for changing an interferometer phase comprising the optical phase
difference between the reference light and the signal light, and the
demodulation device is adapted for determining the signal light
components from the detector output signals obtained at three or more
different interferometer states, which represent three or more different
interferometer phases or at least two different interferometer phases
with at least one state wherein the reference light path (II) is blocked.