Abstract: Provided is a tip capable of repeatedly regenerating a single-atom termination structure in which a distal end is formed of only one atom. A tip (1) having a single-atom termination structure includes: a thin line member (2) made of a first metal material; a protruding portion (4) made of a second metal material, which is formed at least in a distal end portion (2a) of the thin line member (2), and has a distal end terminated with only one atom; and a supply portion (5) made of the second metal material to be supplied to the protruding portion (4), which is formed in the vicinity of the distal end portion (2a) of the thin line member (2).

Abstract: Provided is a tip capable of repeatedly regenerating a single-atom termination structure in which a distal end is formed of only one atom. A tip (1) having a single-atom termination structure includes: a thin line member (2) made of a first metal material; a protruding portion (4) made of a second metal material, which is formed at least in a distal end portion (2a) of the thin line member (2), and has a distal end terminated with only one atom; and a supply portion (5) made of the second metal material to be supplied to the protruding portion (4), which is formed in the vicinity of the distal end portion (2a) of the thin line member (2).

Abstract: A cantilever heating mechanism, and a cantilever holder and cantilever heating method that use the same, which make high-efficiency heating possible in air or in a high or low vacuum even for a general cantilever where no heating wiring pattern is provided, and further that enable localized heating and localized high-pressure/high-temperature treatment of specimens. Provided are a holder (1), which can detachably hold a cantilever (L) with a probe tip, and at least a first electrode (2a) and a second electrode (2b), which are in electric contact with the cantilever (L) held by the holder (1). The holder (1) is equipped with a stationary base (11) and a fixing part (12), which fulfills the function of an electrode.

Abstract: A positioning mechanism capable of decreasing width and size and a microscope using the positioning mechanism are provided. The positioning mechanism is provided with a supporting shaft possessing a spherical surface part at a prescribed position and guides disposed substantially parallel to the supporting shaft and is characterized, on the assumption that of the three-dimensional directions, the axial direction of the supporting shaft constitutes the z direction, by the fact that the supporting shaft is nipped by the guides at the position of the spherical surface part and enabled to oscillate on the spherical surface part as a fulcrum in the xy directions and as well slide in the z direction.

Abstract: A positioning mechanism capable of decreasing width and size and a microscope using the positioning mechanism are provided. The positioning mechanism is provided with a supporting shaft possessing a spherical surface part at a prescribed position and guides disposed substantially parallel to the supporting shaft and is characterized, on the assumption that of the three-dimensional directions, the axial direction of the supporting shaft constitutes the z direction, by the fact that the supporting shaft is nipped by the guides at the position of the spherical surface part and enabled to oscillate on the spherical surface part as a fulcrum in the xy directions and as well slide in the z direction.

Abstract: An environment controllable scanning probe microscope (SPM), such as a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), atomic force microscope (AFM), etc., in which the gaseous environment of the sample during the observation is controllable. That is, the gas surrounding the sample can be replaced to a desired one and the pressure can be set to a desired value. The SPM is suited for observing biological samples because biological samples may deteriorate under a reduced pressure and the surface topography at such high magnification is vulnerable to contamination from the environment.