Patent ID: 7975316
Filing Date: 2011-07-05
Classification: G01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A frequency modulation atomic force microscope for detecting, in oscillating with a resonance frequency a cantilever for holding a probe approximated to a sample surface, an oscillation frequency of the cantilever holding the probe, the oscillation frequency varying due to an interaction acting between an atom of the sample surface and a tip of the probe, and the atomic force microscope comprising: a) a concave-convex observation image obtaining means for one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally scanning a predetermined area of the sample surface and simultaneously forming and displaying a concave-convex observation image of the sample surface; b) a specification means for allowing a user to specify at least one target atom and one atomic defect on the concave-convex observation image displayed by the concave-convex observation image obtaining means; c) an on-atom measurement performing means for measuring, on the sample surface and on the target atom specified by the specification means, an on-atom Δf curve which illustrates a relationship between a distance Z between the tip of the probe and the sample surface and a variation (frequency shift) Δf of the oscillation frequency from the resonance frequency; d) an on-defect measurement performing means for measuring, on the sample surface and on the atomic defect specified by the specification means, an on-defect Δf curve which illustrates a relationship between a distance Z between the tip of the probe and the sample surface and a variation Δf of the oscillation frequency from the resonance frequency; e) a difference computation means for calculating a difference Δf curve which is a difference between the on-atom Δf curve and the on-defect Δf curve; and f) a conversion computation means for performing a computation of converting a frequency variation in the difference Δf curve into an interaction force to obtain a short-range interaction force.