Abstract: A method of measuring vibration characteristics of a cantilever in a scanning probe microscope (SPM). An excitation signal is generated by a forward and backward frequency sweep signal in a frequency range including a resonance frequency of the cantilever. The cantilever is vibrated by supplying the excitation signal to a vibrating portion of the cantilever. The largest amplitude of a displacement of the cantilever in a forward path and in a backward path is directly measured, and an intermediate value of a frequency between frequencies measured on the basis of the directly measured largest amplitude of the displacement of the cantilever is detected as the resonance frequency of the cantilever.

Abstract: In a local softening point measuring apparatus and thermal conductivity measuring apparatus using a probe microscope as a base, environment of the prob˜ and a sample surface is set to 1/100 atmospheric pressure (103 Pa) or lower. Otherwise, a side surface of the probe is coated with a thermal insulation material having a thickness that enables thermal dissipation to be reduced to 1/100 or lower, to thereby reduce the thermal dissipation from the side surface of the probe, and exchange heat substantially only at the contacting portion between the probe and the sample surface.

Abstract: A method of measuring vibration characteristics of a cantilever includes: generating a forward and backward high speed frequency sweep signal in a frequency range including a resonance frequency of the cantilever by an excitation signal generator; vibrating the cantilever; measuring frequencies at the largest amplitude in a forward path and in a backward path; and detecting an intermediate value between the measured frequencies as the resonance frequency of the cantilever. The method may further include checking whether or not there is a secondary resonance frequency that is 6.3 times the primary resonance frequency when the primary resonance frequency is detected, so as to prevent a detection error of the resonance frequency.

Abstract: Provided is a cantilever that is capable of bending and deforming in an active manner by itself. The cantilever includes: a lever portion having a proximal end that is supported by a main body part; and a resistor member that is formed in the cantilever and generates heat when a voltage is applied, to thereby deform the lever portion by thermal expansion due to the heat.

Abstract: There is provided an optical displacement detection mechanism in which, even if a measurement object changes, a detection sensitivity and a ratio of a noise are adjustable without depending on optical characteristics such as reflectivity, or a shape and mechanical characteristics of a measurement object, an influence of a thermal deformation of the measurement object by an irradiated light to the measurement object can be made small, and a measurement accuracy can be ensured under optimum conditions.

Abstract: The sensor has the self-detecting probe including a body portion, an elongated belt-like flexible substrate, connecting members, a resinous portion, and external contacts formed at the ends of the flexible substrate brought out of liquid. The probe further includes a cantilever whose base end is supported to the body portion, a strain resistive element whose resistance value varies according to the amount of displacement of the cantilever, and interconnects electrically connected with the strain resistive element. A probe tip is formed at the front end of the cantilever. The flexible substrate has an interconnect pattern sandwiched between two insulating sheets. The flexible substrate supports the body portion while the cantilever protrudes outwardly. At least one end of the flexible substrate is brought out of liquid. The connecting members connect the interconnects with the interconnect pattern.

Abstract: In a local softening point measuring apparatus and thermal conductivity measuring apparatus using a probe microscope as a base, environment of the prob˜ and a sample surface is set to 1/100 atmospheric pressure (103 Pa) or lower. Otherwise, a side surface of the probe is coated with a thermal insulation material having a thickness that enables thermal dissipation to be reduced to 1/100 or lower, to thereby reduce the thermal dissipation from the side surface of the probe, and exchange heat substantially only at the contacting portion between the probe and the sample surface.

Abstract: An electric potential difference detection method detects an electric potential difference between a surface of a sample and a probe of a cantilever in a scanning probe microscope. An AC voltage having a frequency that is ½ of a resonance frequency of the cantilever is applied between the sample and the cantilever, and a magnitude of an amplitude of vibration of the cantilever is detected. On the basis of the detection, a determination is made as to whether an electric potential difference exists or does not exist between the surface of the sample and the cantilever probe. A determination that an electric potential difference between the surface of the sample and the cantilever probe does not exist is made in a case where the cantilever is resonating and the detected magnitude of the amplitude of vibration of the cantilever is greater than a predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: A cantilever includes: a lever portion; a holder portion supporting the proximal end of the lever portion; a probe portion arranged at the distal end of the lever portion and having a spherical surface to face a sample; and a retaining portion fixed to the distal end of the lever portion and retaining the probe portion to surround a periphery of the probe portion. There is provided a cantilever allowing mounting of a probe portion with little effect in a short time without using any adhesive.

Abstract: Provided is a cantilever that is capable of bending and deforming in an active manner by itself. The cantilever includes: a lever portion having a proximal end that is supported by a main body part; and a resistor member that is formed in the cantilever and generates heat when a voltage is applied, to thereby deform the lever portion by thermal expansion due to the heat.

Abstract: A displacement detection portion is provided in a lever portion of a cantilever or between the lever portion and a main body portion. The displacement detection portion is provided by laminating two conductor electrodes to sandwich an insulating portion. A thickness of the insulating portion (electrode interval) is set to a value capable of detecting a variation in tunnel current due to a change in electrode interval which corresponds to a displacement of the lever portion while a predetermined voltage is applied. When the lever portion is slightly displaced, the interval between the conductor electrodes changes. Therefore, the displacement may be detected as the variation in tunnel current at high resolution with sensitivity of an exponential multiple of the change in interval.

Abstract: An inching mechanism for a scanning probe microscope capable of performing measurement with high precision while enhancing the scanning speed by a probe furthermore, and a scanning probe microscope comprising it. The inching mechanism for a scanning probe microscope which is provided in a scanning probe microscope (SPM) (1) having a stage (16) for mounting a sample S, and a probe (20) approaching closely to or touching the surface of the sample S, characterized in that the inching mechanism comprises a first drive section and a second drive section provided independently, a probe inching mechanism (26) having the first drive section and inching, by the first drive section, the probe (20) in the X direction and Y direction parallel with the surface of the sample S and intersecting each other, and a stage inching mechanism (27) having the second drive section and inching, by the second drive section, the stage (16) in the Z direction perpendicular to the surface of the sample S.

Abstract: The sensor has the self-detecting probe including a body portion, an elongated belt-like flexible substrate, connecting members, a resinous portion, and external contacts formed at the ends of the flexible substrate brought out of liquid. The probe further includes a cantilever whose base end is supported to the body portion, a strain resistive element whose resistance value varies according to the amount of displacement of the cantilever, and interconnects electrically connected with the strain resistive element. A probe tip is formed at the front end of the cantilever. The flexible substrate has an interconnect pattern sandwiched between two insulating sheets. The flexible substrate supports the body portion while the cantilever protrudes outwardly. At least one end of the flexible substrate is brought out of liquid. The connecting members connect the interconnects with the interconnect pattern.

Abstract: A vibration-type cantilever holder holds a cantilever opposed to a sample. The holder supports a main body part of the cantilever at only its base end so that a probe at the free end of the cantilever can contact the sample. The holder has a cantilever-attaching stand on which the main body part is placed and fastened such that the cantilever is tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to the sample. A first vibration source is fastened to the cantilever-attaching stand and vibrates with a phase and an amplitude depending on a predetermined waveform signal, and the first vibration source is fastened at a first location to a holder main body. A second vibration source is fastened at a second location, which is spaced from the first location, to the holder main body and generates vibrations to offset vibrations traveling from the first vibration source to the cantilever-attaching stand and holder main body.

Abstract: A liquid cell 1 for fixing a sample S in a condition in which the sample S is dipped in a solution W, including a lower mount 2 including a bottom plate 10 having a mounting surface 10a on which the sample is mounted, and a wall section 11 disposed on the bottom plate so as to surround the periphery of the mounted sample and capable of trapping the solution inside the surrounded area, an upper mount 3 including an upper plate 20 abutting on an upper surface of the wall section, and a flange section 21 formed so as to be bent from an outer edge of the upper plate at an angle of substantially 90 degrees, and abutting on an outer peripheral surface of the wall section, the upper mount being capable of fitting to the lower mount from above, and a holding member 4 that abuts on an outer edge of the sample to press the sample against the mounting surface from above when the upper mount fits, wherein, an outer peripheral surface of the wall section and an inner circumferential surface of the flange section are provi

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope has a probe needle and a control section that controls relative scanning movement between the probe needle and a surface of a sample in at least one direction parallel to the sample surface and controls relative movement between the probe needle and the sample surface in a direction perpendicular to the sample surface. A vibration source vibrates the probe needle at a vibrating frequency relative to the sample surface. An approach/separation drive section causes the probe needle to relatively approach to and separate from the sample surface at a predetermined distance while the probe needle is vibrated at the vibrating frequency relative to the sample surface by the vibration source. A detection section detects a rate of change in a vibration state of the probe needle in accordance with a distance between the probe needle and the sample surface.

Abstract: A micro-protruding structure which has a high positional precision and an angular (directional) precision, which is made of a linear material having a large aspect ratio, and which is provided for an analyzer, a display device, a machining device, a measuring device and an observation device. The micro-protruding structure is fabricated by growing a linear material of a carbon nano-tube from the bottom of the hole structure perforated by a focused ion beam. This permits a direction from the bottom of the hole structure to the opening to become nearly in alignment with the direction of the linear material that protrudes from the hole structure.

Abstract: To prevent an influence from effecting on an oscillating state of a cantilever by firmly fixing a main body portion, there is provided a cantilever holder for attachably and detachably fixing a cantilever which is provided with a stylus at a front end thereof and a base end side of which is supported by a main body portion in a single-supported state, the cantilever holder including a base member having a mounting portion for mounting the main body portion in a state of being positioned at a predetermined position, a holding member made to be able to be brought into contact with at least a surface of the main body portion in a state of mounting the main body portion on the mounting portion and extended in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction (axis line A direction) of the cantilever, and pressing means for pressing both ends of the holding member to the base member by a predetermined pressure, fixing the main body portion to the mounting portion by way of the holding member and cap

Abstract: An inching mechanism for a scanning probe microscope capable of performing measurement with high precision while enhancing the scanning speed by a probe furthermore, and a scanning probe microscope comprising it. The inching mechanism for a scanning probe microscope which is provided in a scanning probe microscope (SPM) (1) having a stage (16) for mounting a sample S, and a probe (20) approaching closely to or touching the surface of the sample S, characterized in that the inching mechanism comprises a first drive section and a second drive section provided independently, a probe inching mechanism (26) having the first drive section and inching, by the first drive section, the probe (20) in the X direction and Y direction parallel with the surface of the sample S and intersecting each other, and a stage inching mechanism (27) having the second drive section and inching, by the second drive section, the stage (16) in the Z direction perpendicular to the surface of the sample S.

Abstract: An electric potential difference detection method detecting an electric potential difference occurring between a surface of a sample and a probe of a cantilever of a scanning probe microscope includes: applying an AC voltage of a frequency of ½ of a resonance frequency of the cantilever, between the sample and the cantilever; detecting vibration characteristics of the cantilever; and judging an existence/nonexistence of the electric potential difference between the surface of the sample and the probe of the cantilever on the basis of the vibration characteristics of the cantilever.