THE PROBE DYNAMICS UNDER SHEAR FORCE IN NEAR-FIELD SCANNING OPTICAL MICROSCOPY

We present here the results of theoretical as well as experimental stu dies of shear force interactions in near-field scanning optical micros copy. A continuum mechanical model that considers the realistic tapere d fiber shape was used to calculate the shea force during the interact ions. The frequency spectra at different probe/sample separations show that the shear force is a combination of elastic and frictional force . The relative strengths of these two forces depend on the tilt angle between the probe and the sample surface. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(98)08806-9].