Mode-synthesizing atomic force microscopy and mode-synthesizing sensing

• US 8,789,211 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Tennessee Research Foundation (University of Tennessee), UT-Battelle LLC
• Original Assignee: University of Tennessee Research Foundation (University of Tennessee), UT-Battelle LLC
• Inventors: Passian, Ali, Thundat, Thomas George, Tetard, Laurene
• Primary Examiner(s): Ippolito, Nicole
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSENBAUGH-STEWART, ELIZA W
• Application Number:
  US13/897,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20140020141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 850/37, 73/240.1
• US Class Current: 850/37
• CPC Class Codes: G01Q 60/24 AFM [Atomic Force Microscopy] or apparatus therefor, e.g. AFM probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01Q 60/32 AC mode
• CPC Class Codes: G01Q 60/36 DC mode
• CPC Class Codes: G01Q 60/363 Contact-mode AFM
• CPC Class Codes: G01Q 90/00 Scanning-probe techniques or apparatus not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A method of analyzing a sample that includes applying a first set of energies at a first set of frequencies to a sample and applying, simultaneously with the applying the first set of energies, a second set of energies at a second set of frequencies, wherein the first set of energies and the second set of energies form a multi-mode coupling. The method further includes detecting an effect of the multi-mode coupling.

Claims

1. A sensor system comprising:

a first cantilever comprising a first end;

a first excitation source that applies to said first cantilever a first set of energies at a first set of frequencies;

a second cantilever comprising a second end, wherein said second end is adjacent to said first end;

a second excitation source, independent of said first excitation source, that applies a second set of energies at a second set of frequencies, wherein said first set of energies and said second set of energies are simultaneously applied to said first cantilever and said second cantilever, respectively, and form a multi-mode coupling; and

a detector that detects an effect of said multi-mode coupling.

2. The sensor system of claim 1, wherein said first set of energies is a first set of vibrational energies and said second set of energies is a second set of vibrational energies.

3. The sensor system of claim 2, further comprising;

a spectrum analyzer that receives a first signal from said detector; and

a display that receives a second signal from said spectrum analyzer and generates a spectrum of said sample based on said second signal.

4. The sensor system of claim 3, further comprising:

a second detector;

a second spectrum analyzer that receives a third signal from said second detector; and

a second display that receives a fourth signal from said second spectrum analyzer and generates a second spectrum of said sample based on said fourth signal.

5. The sensor system of claim 2, further comprising;

a lock-in amplifier that receives a first signal from said detector;

a processor that receives a second signal from said lock-in amplifier; and

a display that receives a third signal from said processor and generates an image of said sample based on said third signal.

6. The sensor system of claim 5, further comprising;

a second detector;

a second lock-in amplifier that receives a fourth signal from said detector;

a second processor that receives a fifth signal from said second lock-in amplifier; and

a second display that receives a sixth signal from said second processor and generates a second image of said sample based on said sixth signal.

7. A method of analyzing a sample comprising:

applying a first set of energies at a first set of frequencies to a sample via a first cantilever;

applying a second set of energies at a second set of frequencies to said sample via a second cantilever, wherein said first cantilever is adjacent to said second cantilever, wherein said first set of energies and said second set of energies are simultaneously applied to said first cantilever and said second cantilever, respectively, and form a multi-mode coupling; and

detecting an effect of said multi-mode coupling.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying a spectrum of said sample based on said detecting.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said first set of energies is a first set of vibrational energies and said second set of energies is a second set of vibrational energies.