The invention relates to scanning magnetic microscope which has a
photoluminescent nanoprobe implanted in the tip apex of an atomic force
microscope (AFM), a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) or a near-field
scanning optical microscope (NSOM) and exhibits optically detected
magnetic resonance (ODMR) in the vicinity of unpaired electron spins or
nuclear magnetic moments in the sample material. The described spin
microscope has demonstrated nanoscale lateral resolution and single spin
sensitivity for the AFM and STM embodiments.