Parallel Probe Readout

In this thesis techniques are developed to read out nanoscale probes and arrays of probes.The main targeted application area is probe-based data storage.The work also contributes to other areas, such as metrology, biological sensing, materials research and nano-electro-mechanical switches. First, an exhaustive literature review of the accomplishments within probe storage is presented. It is found that optical readout techniques are used extensively in applications using probes; however, the very demanding application probe storage is not amongst them. Optical readout of probes offers reliability, high-speed, low noise and low complexity. It has to be extended to operation on arrays of probes for successful implementation in probe storage. The first technique that is developed in this work is parallel....