For best accuracy, a series of measurements should be made where the automatic signal averaging can eliminate random variations. The KP is not used to measure height. In principle it could, since the system can detect separation changes between the tip and sample of a few microns. Please contact MTS for more information. In order to scan a line or an area, either the KP or the sample must be moved or scanned.
Spatial resolution is a function of tip size.
Some researchers have used a software deconvolution routine to get lateral resolution far smaller than the actual tip size. We are dubious about the scientific merits of this scheme since it requires unproven assumptions to be made about the data. It does, however, produce very pretty images. The tip should be a millimeter or so smaller than the sample so that the sample appears to the tip as an infinite plane. If the sample is smaller than the tip, fringe fields can cause spurious readings.