Probe opening forming apparatus and near-field optical microscope using the same

摘要

A probe opening forming apparatus (139) includes: light detecting means (140) for detecting a quantity of a light transmitted from a tip portion of the probe through a light of the source (116), which is on contact with the tip portion of the probe; storage means (142) for previously storing information about relation of the quantity of the light transmitted from the tip portion of the probe and the size of the opening; calculating means (144) for obtaining the value of the light quantity for obtaining an opening having a desirable size based on the information stored in the storage means (142); and pressing control means (126) for controlling the press of the tip portion of the probe against the light detecting means through the pressing means (114) such that a light quantity detected by the light detecting means (140) is equal to the light quantity calculated from the calculating means (144). <IMAGE>