A method of performing nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the method comprising: i) providing the sample to an imaging system comprising a graphene layer, wher e in the sample is disposed over the graphene layer; ii) exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (GPs) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging th e sample; and iii) capturing an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the imaging system further comprises a substrate on which the graphene layer is disposed, the substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein. where in the ima gin g sv ste m furt her compr iscs a die lectri c Lan r dis p osed o n theraphere lav er, su ch that the s ample is d ispo s ed on the die lectric la yer. w her ein the i ma ging system further comp rises a lens, wherein t he s amle is d isposed beveen the graph en e la ye r and els, wherein capt uring the i ma ge o f the sample is performed by the lens, wherein the di e lectric gratings form a circ le around a portion of the substrate over w h ich the sample i s dis posed d uring the ste ps of e xc itin g the plural ity of GP s a nd cap turingthe ina e of the sample, wherein the g r tph lne la y er is in di rect ph ysical contact w ith an upper s urfa ce of the su ~ar t, wherein excit in g the plu rality of G P s co m prises usi ng a plural ity of la ser pulses to i rr a diate the d ielectric g r atin g s o f the substrate to e xcilte G IPs, wherein each laser pulse has a du ration in a ran ge of f rom 1 na nosecond (n s) t o 9 ns, and wher ein the separation b etw een consecutive pulses is in a ran ge o f fro m i10 ns to 99 ts. Currently amended

2-3. Canceled

Canceled

6-7. Canceled

Canceled

10-11. Canceled

Canceled

The method according to -lais cl aim 1, wherein the graphene layer is a graphene monolayer. Currently amended

A system for perfo n ning nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the system comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein; a graphene layer disposed on the substrate; a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer and configured to have the sample disposed thereon; and a lens positioned abov e the dielectric layer, wherein the system is configured to perform imaging by exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (G Ps) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging the sample, and using the lens to capture an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the c raphene lav er is in direct physica l c ontact with a lower surface of the dielectri c laye r, wherein the system is config ur ed s uch that, d u rin g use, t he sample is i n direct ph ysical co ntact w ith an upper surface of the dielectri c la yer. wherein th e dielectri c urati ngs f o rm a circle around a portion of the substr ate over wh ich the sample is dispos e d during us e of the syste n wherein the g raphene lay er is in direct physical c ont act vi th a n up per s uri ac e o f t he su bstrate, wherein the system f u rther c ompris e s a laser, whe rein e x citing the plurality of GI s com prises using a plurality of laser p u ise s from the laser t o irradiat e the dielectric a rati na s of the substrat e t o_ce xcit e GPs. wherein e ach laser pulse has a dur a t ion in a ra ngre of from 1 na nosecond (u s) to 9 ns, and wherein t he separation between consecutive pul ses is in a ran ge of fro m 10 ns to 99 ns. Currently amended

15-16. Canceled

Canceled

Canceled

A method of performing nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the method comprising: i) providing the sample to an imaging system comprising a graphene layer, wher e in the sample is disposed over the graphene layer; ii) exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (GPs) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging th e sample; and iii) capturing an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the imaging system further comprises a substrate on which the graphene layer is disposed, the substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein. where in the ima gin g sv ste m furt her compr iscs a die lectri c Lan r dis p osed o n theraphere lav er, su ch that the s ample is d ispo s ed on the die lectric la yer. w her ein the i ma ging system further comp rises a lens, wherein t he s amle is d isposed beveen the graph en e la ye r and els, wherein capt uring the i ma ge o f the sample is performed by the lens, wherein the di e lectric gratings form a circ le around a portion of the substrate over w h ich the sample i s dis posed d uring the ste ps of e xc itin g the plural ity of GP s a nd cap turingthe ina e of the sample, wherein the g r tph lne la y er is in di rect ph ysical contact w ith an upper s urfa ce of the su ~ar t, wherein excit in g the plu rality of G P s co m prises usi ng a plural ity of la ser pulses to i rr a diate the d ielectric g r atin g s o f the substrate to e xcilte G IPs, wherein each laser pulse has a du ration in a ran ge of f rom 1 na nosecond (n s) t o 9 ns, and wher ein the separation b etw een consecutive pulses is in a ran ge o f fro m i10 ns to 99 ts. Currently amended

2-3. Canceled

Canceled

6-7. Canceled

Canceled

10-11. Canceled

Canceled

The method according to -lais cl aim 1, wherein the graphene layer is a graphene monolayer. Currently amended

A system for perfo n ning nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the system comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein; a graphene layer disposed on the substrate; a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer and configured to have the sample disposed thereon; and a lens positioned abov e the dielectric layer, wherein the system is configured to perform imaging by exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (G Ps) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging the sample, and using the lens to capture an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the c raphene lav er is in direct physica l c ontact with a lower surface of the dielectri c laye r, wherein the system is config ur ed s uch that, d u rin g use, t he sample is i n direct ph ysical co ntact w ith an upper surface of the dielectri c la yer. wherein th e dielectri c urati ngs f o rm a circle around a portion of the substr ate over wh ich the sample is dispos e d during us e of the syste n wherein the g raphene lay er is in direct physical c ont act vi th a n up per s uri ac e o f t he su bstrate, wherein the system f u rther c ompris e s a laser, whe rein e x citing the plurality of GI s com prises using a plurality of laser p u ise s from the laser t o irradiat e the dielectric a rati na s of the substrat e t o_ce xcit e GPs. wherein e ach laser pulse has a dur a t ion in a ra ngre of from 1 na nosecond (u s) to 9 ns, and wherein t he separation between consecutive pul ses is in a ran ge of fro m 10 ns to 99 ns. Currently amended

15-16. Canceled

Canceled

Canceled

A method of performing nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the method comprising: i) providing the sample to an imaging system comprising a graphene layer, wher e in the sample is disposed over the graphene layer; ii) exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (GPs) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging th e sample; and iii) capturing an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the imaging system further comprises a substrate on which the graphene layer is disposed, the substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein. where in the ima gin g sv ste m furt her compr iscs a die lectri c Lan r dis p osed o n theraphere lav er, su ch that the s ample is d ispo s ed on the die lectric la yer. w her ein the i ma ging system further comp rises a lens, wherein t he s amle is d isposed beveen the graph en e la ye r and els, wherein capt uring the i ma ge o f the sample is performed by the lens, wherein the di e lectric gratings form a circ le around a portion of the substrate over w h ich the sample i s dis posed d uring the ste ps of e xc itin g the plural ity of GP s a nd cap turingthe ina e of the sample, wherein the g r tph lne la y er is in di rect ph ysical contact w ith an upper s urfa ce of the su ~ar t, wherein excit in g the plu rality of G P s co m prises usi ng a plural ity of la ser pulses to i rr a diate the d ielectric g r atin g s o f the substrate to e xcilte G IPs, wherein each laser pulse has a du ration in a ran ge of f rom 1 na nosecond (n s) t o 9 ns, and wher ein the separation b etw een consecutive pulses is in a ran ge o f fro m i10 ns to 99 ts. Currently amended

2-3. Canceled

Canceled

6-7. Canceled

Canceled

10-11. Canceled

Canceled

The method according to -lais cl aim 1, wherein the graphene layer is a graphene monolayer. Currently amended

A system for perfo n ning nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the system comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein; a graphene layer disposed on the substrate; a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer and configured to have the sample disposed thereon; and a lens positioned abov e the dielectric layer, wherein the system is configured to perform imaging by exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (G Ps) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging the sample, and using the lens to capture an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the c raphene lav er is in direct physica l c ontact with a lower surface of the dielectri c laye r, wherein the system is config ur ed s uch that, d u rin g use, t he sample is i n direct ph ysical co ntact w ith an upper surface of the dielectri c la yer. wherein th e dielectri c urati ngs f o rm a circle around a portion of the substr ate over wh ich the sample is dispos e d during us e of the syste n wherein the g raphene lay er is in direct physical c ont act vi th a n up per s uri ac e o f t he su bstrate, wherein the system f u rther c ompris e s a laser, whe rein e x citing the plurality of GI s com prises using a plurality of laser p u ise s from the laser t o irradiat e the dielectric a rati na s of the substrat e t o_ce xcit e GPs. wherein e ach laser pulse has a dur a t ion in a ra ngre of from 1 na nosecond (u s) to 9 ns, and wherein t he separation between consecutive pul ses is in a ran ge of fro m 10 ns to 99 ns. Currently amended

15-16. Canceled

Canceled

Canceled

A method of performing nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the method comprising: i) providing the sample to an imaging system comprising a graphene layer, wher e in the sample is disposed over the graphene layer; ii) exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (GPs) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging th e sample; and iii) capturing an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the imaging system further comprises a substrate on which the graphene layer is disposed, the substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein. where in the ima gin g sv ste m furt her compr iscs a die lectri c Lan r dis p osed o n theraphere lav er, su ch that the s ample is d ispo s ed on the die lectric la yer. w her ein the i ma ging system further comp rises a lens, wherein t he s amle is d isposed beveen the graph en e la ye r and els, wherein capt uring the i ma ge o f the sample is performed by the lens, wherein the di e lectric gratings form a circ le around a portion of the substrate over w h ich the sample i s dis posed d uring the ste ps of e xc itin g the plural ity of GP s a nd cap turingthe ina e of the sample, wherein the g r tph lne la y er is in di rect ph ysical contact w ith an upper s urfa ce of the su ~ar t, wherein excit in g the plu rality of G P s co m prises usi ng a plural ity of la ser pulses to i rr a diate the d ielectric g r atin g s o f the substrate to e xcilte G IPs, wherein each laser pulse has a du ration in a ran ge of f rom 1 na nosecond (n s) t o 9 ns, and wher ein the separation b etw een consecutive pulses is in a ran ge o f fro m i10 ns to 99 ts. Currently amended

2-3. Canceled

Canceled

6-7. Canceled

Canceled

10-11. Canceled

Canceled

The method according to -lais cl aim 1, wherein the graphene layer is a graphene monolayer. Currently amended

A system for perfo n ning nanometer-scale microscopy on a sample, the system comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric gratings therein; a graphene layer disposed on the substrate; a dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer and configured to have the sample disposed thereon; and a lens positioned abov e the dielectric layer, wherein the system is configured to perform imaging by exciting a plurality of graphene plasmons (G Ps) in the graphene layer as an illumination source for imaging the sample, and using the lens to capture an image of the sample using the GPs as the illumination source, wherein the c raphene lav er is in direct physica l c ontact with a lower surface of the dielectri c laye r, wherein the system is config ur ed s uch that, d u rin g use, t he sample is i n direct ph ysical co ntact w ith an upper surface of the dielectri c la yer. wherein th e dielectri c urati ngs f o rm a circle around a portion of the substr ate over wh ich the sample is dispos e d during us e of the syste n wherein the g raphene lay er is in direct physical c ont act vi th a n up per s uri ac e o f t he su bstrate, wherein the system f u rther c ompris e s a laser, whe rein e x citing the plurality of GI s com prises using a plurality of laser p u ise s from the laser t o irradiat e the dielectric a rati na s of the substrat e t o_ce xcit e GPs. wherein e ach laser pulse has a dur a t ion in a ra ngre of from 1 na nosecond (u s) to 9 ns, and wherein t he separation between consecutive pul ses is in a ran ge of fro m 10 ns to 99 ns. Currently amended

15-16. Canceled

Canceled

Canceled