An opening fabricating apparatus for creating an opening with desired
dimensions at a mask tip of a near-field optical microscope, and a
near-field optical microscope using the same are provided. The apparatus
comprising: a light source 116; reflection means 140, light detection
means 124; press means 128, 130 pressing a probe tip against said
reflection means; storage means 142; calculation means 144 figuring out
the quantity of light of the reflected light for the acquisition of said
opening with desired dimensions from the calibration information stored in
said storage means; and press control means 126 controlling pressing of
said probe tip against said reflection means so as to allow the quantity
of light of said reflected light to become equal to the quantity figured
out by said calculation means. The probe opening fabricating apparatus is
capable of readily fabricating an opening of desired dimensions with a
high reproducibility.
