Fig. 1. Overview of concepts of local modifications induced by a thermal scanning probe on a sample.

Removal of material by thermomechanical indentation or sublimation of a sample material; Conversion of a sample by local modification of its physical properties such as the crystallinity or magnetic dipole orientation, or chemical conversion; Addition of a functional material by melt transfer from a heated tip to the substrate or from a gas phase such as chemical vapor deposition of a precursor material