Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A probe, comprising:an optical fiber having a tapered end forming an apex;an electronically conductive transparent film formed on a surface of the tapered end; anda first metal film formed on a first surface of said optical fiber other than the surface of the tapered end and electrically connected to said electrically conductive transparent film,wherein said probe is configured for use with a probe control apparatus that controls a distance between said probe and a sample via a shear force gap control method. 2. The probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of said first metal film is no less than 5 mm and the thickness of said first metal film is from 0.2 μm to 10 μm. 3. The probe as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:a second metal film formed on a second surface of said optical fiber other than the surface of the tapered end, said second metal film being no less than 10 μm thick; anda transitional metal film formed on a third surface of said optical fiber other than the surface of the tapered end and connecting said first metal film with said second metal film, said transitional metal film having a thickness that continuously increases along a direction from said first metal film to said second metal film. 4. The probe as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:a material configured to prevent transmission of light from said electrically conductive transparent film to portions of the tapered end other than the apex.