Patent ID: 7305869

Claim:
A scanning magnetic microscope comprising: an ultrasensitive micro-cantilever onto the free end of which is fixed a photoluminescent nanoprobe; a sample of dilute paramagnetic particles exhibiting electron spins which is closely positioned, in the range of tens of nanometers, to said nanoprobe; a permanent magnet placed nearby for inducing an external magnetic field upon said nanoprobe and said sample of dilute paramagnetic particles; a radio frequency coil placed nearby for inducing an external radio frequency field upon said nanoprobe and said sample of dilute paramagnetic particles; an optical fiber placed in close proximity to said nanoprobe for introducing an evanescent laser exciting light upon said nanoprobe at a frequency resonant with the transition between the magnetic sublevels of said nanoprobe; and a detector, positioned at a 45 degree angle to said nanoprobe and said sample of dilute paramagnetic particles in both plan and elevation views, capable of optically recognizing the photoluminescent intensity of transition emissions given off by said nanoprobe when excited.