Performance Evaluation of Non-contact Atomic Force Microscopy Due to Vibration Characteristics of Cantilever

비접촉 원자간력 현미경의 탐침 외팔보 진동특성에 따른 성능 평가

This paper presents a result of performance evaluation fur non-contact scanning probe microscopy with respect to the vibration characteristics of cantilevers with tips. One of the current issues of the scanning probe microscopy technology is to increase the measurement speed, which is closely tied with the dynamic characteristics of cantilevers. The primary concern in this research is to investigate the relation between the maximum possible speed of non-contact scanning probe microscopy and the dynamic characteristics of cantilevers. First, the finite element analysis is made fur the vibration characteristics of various cantilevers in use. The computed natural frequencies of the cantilevers are in good agreement with measured ones. Then, each cantilever is tested with topographic measurement for a standard sample with the scanning speed changed. The performances of cantilevers are analyzed along with the natural frequencies of cantilevers. Experiments are also performed to test the effects of how to attach cantilevers in the piezo-electric actuator. Finally, measurement sensitivity has been analyzed to enhance the performance of scanning probe microscopy.