blueDrive Photothermal Excitation

Cypher can maintain atomic resolution for 12+ hours unattended using blueDrive

Ordered phase at water-HOPG interface. The ordered phase forms spontaneously, with regularly spaced (1.59 nm) rows that exhibit a periodic (0.48 nm) structure. Similar structures have been attributed to adsorbed nitrogen [cf. Appl. Surf. Sci. 304, 56 (2014)], though others suggest they are formed by trace contaminants. Whatever the origin, tapping mode using blueDrive provides exquisite sub-nm molecular resolution.

Asylum Research’s blueDrive Photothermal Excitation option for Cypher family atomic force microscopes (AFMs) makes tapping mode techniques simpler, more stable, and more quantitative. Tapping mode is by far the dominant choice in the world of AFM, measuring not just topography, but also mechanical, electrical, and magnetic properties. Typically, piezoacoustic excitation is used to drive the cantilever oscillation. Though piezo drive is favored for design simplicity, the response of the cantilever is often far from ideal. Asylum’s blueDrive excitation mechanism produces an almost perfect response by directly exciting the cantilever photothermally. This provides significant performance and ease of use benefits for all tapping mode techniques.