Noise reduction in atomic force microscopy: Resonance contact mode

Noise reduction has been accomplished in atomic force microscopy by applying a high frequency, low amplitude vibration to the cantilever while it is in contact with a surface. The applied excitation (>200 kHz; similar to 1 nm) is acoustically coupled to the tip and dampens the resonance Q factors of the system. The applied frequency is well above the bandwidth of the acquisition system (50 kHz). We call this mode ''resonance contact'' mode. The nonlinear behavior of the tip-sample interaction allows the high frequency excitation to effectively broaden the frequency response of the system resonances. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.