Method for detecting mechanical and magnetic features with nanoscale resolution

A method for detecting mechanical and magnetic features comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a sensor with a probe and aiming the probe at a sample;
• (b) defining a plurality of points to be detected on the sample;
• (c) detecting one of the plurality of points via the sensor for acquiring data of the point, and comprising the steps of:
• (c1) approaching the probe to the point from a predetermined height, while collecting data on the probe's position and the forces it experiences;
• (c2) contacting the probe with the point and applying a predetermined force on the point, while collecting data on the probe's position and the forces it experiences;
• (c3) retracting the probe from the detected point until it reaches the predetermined height, while collecting data on the probe's position and the forces it experiences;
• (c4) shifting the probe to the next point to be detected and repeating the step (c1) to the step (c3);
• (d) collecting the data of each of the detected points while each of the points is in the step (c1), the step (c2) or the step (c3);
• (e) using a signal decomposition algorithm to transform the collected data to a plurality of data groups;
• and
• (f) choosing a part of the data groups to be as data of feature distributions of the sample.