A device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention comprises
a contact probe for high density data storage reading, writing, erasing,
or rewriting. In one embodiment, the contact probe can include a silicon
core having a conductive coating. Contact probes in accordance with the
present invention can be applied to a phase change media, for example, to
form an indicia in the phase change media by changing the electrical
resistivity of a portion of the phase change media.