Patent ID: 6880386

Claim:
A raster probe microscope for the examination of sample surfaces, comprising: a raster probe; a holding device for a sample with the sample surface to be examined; an arrangement for moving the raster probe and/or the sample by which the probe and sample can be brought into contact so that they interact with one another in a given manner; an arrangement for detecting the relative movement of the probe and sample; an arrangement for controlling the movement of the raster probe and/or sample and for exciting a vertical first raster probe and/or sample oscillation and for exciting at least one of a vertical and horizontal second raster probe and/or sample oscillation; and an arrangement for detecting at least one of a vertical and lateral deformation of the raster probe in a vertical first oscillation and at least one of a vertical and horizontal second oscillation; the arrangement for detecting deformation recording two measuring signals characterizing the deformation of the raster probe in a vertical first oscillation and at least one of a vertical and horizontal second oscillation of the raster probe and/or sample, and characterized by periodic raster-probe and/or sample oscillations, wherein the vertical oscillation of the raster probe and/or the sample occurs with a first frequency of at least 10 Hz and a first amplitude of at least 1 nm; wherein the vertical oscillation of the raster probe and/or of the sample is additionally excited or modulated with a second frequency of at least 1 kHz and a second amplitude of at least 0.1 nm.