Patent ID: 8726410
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: G01Q

Abstract:
1. A method of using an atomic force microscope system to image at least one electrostrictive property of a dielectric sample material the atomic force microscope system comprising: A cantilever including a non-magnetic reflective surface, a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a pointed tip and the second end defines a length between the first end and the second end; A scanner coupled to a scanning controller and the second end of the cantilever, wherein the cantilever is positioned such that the pointed tip is adjacent to the sample upper surface, the scanning controller providing a scanner signal to the scanner to position the scanner and the cantilever such that the pointed tip is able to move across at least a portion of the sample upper surface; A laser positioned to emit a light; A photodetector; A generator to generate a single-coil excitation signal; An electromagnetic coil coupled to the generator to receive the single coil-excitation signal; and A single phase sensitive detector; the method comprising: placing the dielectric sample material near the electromagnetic coil; supplying the single coil excitation signal having a predetermined amplitude and a predetermined frequency to the electromagnetic coil such that the single coil-excitation signal creates a single time-varying magnetic field; positioning the dielectric sample material such that the dielectric sample material intersects the single time-varying magnetic field, whereby the single time-varying magnetic field generates a first amount of electrostrictive strain in the dielectric sample material; focusing the laser on the reflective surface of the cantilever, wherein the cantilever comprises a magnetic pointed tip; raster-scanning the dielectric sample material with the magnetic pointed tip of the cantilever such that the magnetic pointed tip is in contact with a sample upper surface, wherein the cantilever is coupled to the scanner, wherein the electrostrictive strain causes the cantilever to deflect toward or away from the sample upper surface; detecting a portion of the laser that is reflected from the reflective surface using the photodetector; collecting an output of the photodetector and the amplitude of the single coil-excitation signal using the single phase sensitive detector; and generating at least one electrostrictive property image by comparing the output of the photodetector and the amplitude of the single coil-excitation signal, wherein the at least one electrostrictive property image is generated independently of the scanner signal.