Material property measurements using multiple frequency atomic force microscopy

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#For the sake of convenience, the current description focuses on systems and techniques that may be realized in a particular embodiment of cantilever-based instruments, the atomic force microscope (AFM). Cantilever-based instruments include such instruments as AFMs, molecular force probe instruments (1D or 3D), high-resolution profilometers (including mechanical stylus profilometers), surface modification instruments, chemical or biological sensing probes, and micro-actuated devices. The systems and techniques described herein may be realized in such other cantilever-based instruments.

#FIG. 1 Preferred embodiment for probing multiple eigenmodes of a cantilever.

#FIG. 2 Preferred embodiment for exciting voltage-dependent motion in the cantilever probe.

#FIG. 3 Preferred embodiment for probing an active device.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for probing multiple eigenmodes of a cantilever in accordance with the present invention. The sample 1010 is positioned below the cantilever probe 1020. The chip 1030 of the cantilever probe 1020 is driven by a mechanical actuator 1040, preferably a piezoelectric actuator, but other methods to induce cantilever motion known to those versed in the art could also be used. The motion of the cantilever probe 1020 relative to the frame of the microscope 1050 is measured with a detector 1060, which could be an optical lever or another method known to those versed in the art. The cantilever chip 1030 is moved relative to the sample 1010 by a scanning apparatus 1070, preferably a piezo/flexure combination, but other methods known to those versed in the art could also be used.

#The motion imparted to the cantilever chip 1030 by actuator 1040 is controlled by excitation electronics that include at least two frequency synthesizers 1080 and 1090. There could be additional synthesizers if more than two cantilever eigenmodes are to be employed. The signals from these frequency synthesizers could be summed together by an analog circuit element 1100 or, preferably, a digital circuit element that performs the same function. The two frequency synthesizers 1080 and 1090 provide reference signals to lockin amplifiers 1110 and 1120, respectively. In the case where more than two eigenmodes are to be employed, the number of lockin amplifiers will also be increased. As with other electronic components in this apparatus, the lockin amplifiers 1110 and 1120 can be made with analog circuitry or with digital circuitry or a hybrid of both. For a digital lockin amplifier, one interesting and attractive feature is that the lockin analysis can be performed on the same data stream for both eigenmodes. This implies that the same position sensitive detector and analog to digital converter can be used to extract information at the two distinct eigenmodes.

#The lockin amplifiers could also be replaced with rms measurement circuitry where the rms amplitude of the cantilever oscillation is used as a feedback signal.