Scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) is hybridized with scanning t
unneling microscope (STM) in order to achieve a higher spatial resolution b
y introducing a doubly metal-coated optical fiber tip with a nm-scale apert
ure. The result of a simultaneous SNOM/STM imaging of Au(lll) indicates the
boundary-sensitive detection in SNOM mode, which is not an artifact caused
by z-motion crosstalk.