Abstract: An apparatus, including a scanning probe microscope base that includes a configured to be secured to an end of an insert in a cryostat; a top configured to be connected to a base of a scanning probe microscope head that is configured to be disposed inside the insert; and a damping system disposed between the frame and the top and comprising a bellows that seals the end of the insert. This sealing separates an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environment in the insert from a high vacuum (HV) environment surrounding the end of the insert and also positions an upper surface of the top in the UHV environment.

Abstract: An apparatus, including: a scanning probe microscope head with a frame configured to fit within an insert of a cryostat, and a scanner, a probe and a sample holder all disposed within the frame; and a coarse motor assembly disposed within the frame and comprising: a positionable component; and coarse motors. The coarse motors are configured to move the positionable component relative to the frame along an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis. The apparatus further includes a universal electrical base connection with half of a plug/socket arrangement. The plug/socket arrangement is configured to provide electrical communication between the scanning probe microscope head and a base which has a second half of the plug/socket arrangement when the scanning probe microscope head is lowered onto the base.

Abstract: An apparatus, including: a scanning probe microscope head with a frame configured to fit within an insert of a cryostat, and a scanner, a probe and a sample holder all disposed within the frame; and a coarse motor assembly disposed within the frame and comprising: a positionable component; and coarse motors. The coarse motors are configured to move the positionable component relative to the frame along an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis. The apparatus further includes a universal electrical base connection with half of a plug/socket arrangement. The plug/socket arrangement is configured to provide electrical communication between the scanning probe microscope head and a base which has a second half of the plug/socket arrangement when the scanning probe microscope head is lowered onto the base.

Abstract: A system for transferring objects into a device inside a controlled environment includes a winch, tool and carousel. The winch includes a drum, and wire arrangement configured to be reversibly wound onto the drum by a first drive. The tool is suspended below a distal end of the wire arrangement and configured to suspend an object. Both the tool and the object are sized to fit inside a device located below the winch. The carousel is connected to a second drive configured to rotate the carousel around a vertical axis, and includes a storage space centered at a first horizontal angle and a pass-through opening at a different second horizontal angle. The pass¬through opening being large enough to pass the tool and the object as the wire arrangement is unwound from the drum thereby lowering the tool and object inside the device.