As with most scientific instruments, the initial applications for the AFM were in basic and applied research; that is, the AFM was used to push forward the frontiers of knowledge. The primary objective of this type of research is to publish a paper in a scientific or technical journal.

After its initial use for basic research, the AFM began to be used for product and process development. The goal of this type of application is to create a better product. Many of these applications are in the high and advanced technology industries such as the disk drive and semiconductor industries.

It is expected that as nanotechnology processes become important for producing products, the AFM will find many applications in quality and process control. Again, the initial process control applications for the AFM are in the semiconductor and data storage industries.

FIGURE 7-1 Several traditional scientific and engineering disciplines contribute to the field of nanotechnology.

Beginning in approximately 2000, the emergence of nanotechnology funding throughout the world led to new applications for atomic force microscopes. In many cases, nanotechnology is directly related to the traditional fields in science and engineering. Figure 7-1 shows the relationship between traditional science and technology and nanotechnology.