A method and apparatus for adaptive read and read-after-write for carbon nanotube recorders is described. In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus, utilizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to read and write data, and deflecting the emissions of such CNTs precisely in the process. In an alternate embodiment, the invention is a method of locating CNTs for purposes of reading and writing data on a disk, using a rough location and feedback to refine the location into a precise location for the track, both for a group of heads and for individual heads within the group. Location may include both physical movement of the heads and deflection of emissions of the heads.