The Core Problem: The Observer Effect & Quantum Uncertainty

Even in principle, "seeing" something requires bouncing a probe particle off of it to gather information. This probe must interact with the object, and in doing so, it transfers energy and momentum, changing the object's state.

Method	Probe Used	Disruption?	Key Point
Optical Microscopy	Photons	Yes	The method you specifically want to avoid.
Electron Microscopy	Electrons	Yes (High)	Avoids photons, but is highly invasive.
Scanning Probe (STM/AFM)	Electromagnetic Force	Yes (Low)	The best "low-impact" alternative; senses rather than bombards.
Quantum Non-Demolition	Various (e.g., microwaves)	Yes (Minimized for one property)	A sophisticated trick to isolate one property from disturbance.

Conclusion

There is no free lunch. You cannot get information for free. While we can avoid photons, we cannot avoid interaction. The "observation without disruption" you're imagining is, as far as we currently understand physics, impossible. The very definition of "observation" in quantum mechanics is inextricably linked to "disruption."