Patent ID: 7976765

Claim:
A method of forming a nanoscale pattern on a substrate surface, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having a surface; (b) providing a nanoscale pattern forming device, comprising an elongated cantilever that has an arm with a first end and a second end that is opposite to the first end, and a tip portion proximate the second end of the arm of the elongated cantilever, wherein the tip portion has a base at a first end and a tip at a second end that is opposite to the first end of the tip portion, and wherein the base is formed at the second end of the arm of the cantilever; and (c) controllably illuminating at least the base of the tip portion of the cantilever with a beam of substantially coherent monoenergetic particles when the cantilever moves relative to the substrate such as to excite a free carrier concentration of the tip portion to form a nanoscale pattern on the surface of the substrate, wherein the tip portion of the cantilever is made from lightly doped silicon.