Abstract: A tunnel unit for a scanning tunneling microscope includes a specimen stage having a plurality of pole pieces joined together via a joint member formed of a non-magnetic material and a specimen placing surface where the pole pieces and the joint member are exposed, a permanent magnet rotatably inserted within the specimen stage and at the joint of the plurality of pole pieces, a scanning head main body, which is provided with a piezoelectric element fixed thereto and a probe mounted on the piezoelectric element, being disposed above the specimen placing surface of the specimen stage and extending across the exposed joint member, and three screws formed of a magnetic material and rotatably mounted on the scanning head main body, the screws having their end portions in contact with the specimen placing surface of the specimen stage for supporting the scanning head main body above the specimen placing surface.

Abstract: A fine adjustment mechanism for a scanning tunneling microscope includes a mounting member, a cylindrical piezoelectric element fixed to the mounting member at one end of the element, a probe provided at the other end of the piezoelectric element, and electrodes disposed on the inner and outer walls of the piezoelectric element, one of the electrodes being divided into a plurality of electrode groups in the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A fine adjustment mechanism for a scanning tunneling microscope includes a mounting member, a cylindrical piezoelectric element fixed to the mounting member at one end thereof, an electrode provided on each of the inner and outer walls of the piezoelectric element, a probe provided on the other end of the piezoelectric element in such a manner that it extends outward on the central axis of the piezoelectric element, an electrically conductive member provided on the central axis of the piezoelectric element, one end of the conductive member being electrically connected to the probe within the piezoelectric element and the other end thereof extending to the outside of the piezoelectric element through the side of the piezoelectric element at which it is fixed to the mounting member, and shielding member provided on the outer periphery of the conductive member for electrically shielding the conductive member.

Abstract: A transfer vessel device for transporting a specimen between two vacuum apparatuses while maintaining the specimen under a high vacuum. The device comprises a hermetic container for accommodating a specimen removed from a vacuum apparatus and for supporting the specimen; a heat-insulated container in which a cooling medium such as liquid nitrogen is accommodated; and a heat-transfer member which is formed of a highly heat conductive material such as copper and which surrounds the specimen in the hermetic container and has one end leading into the heat-insulated container so as to be cooled by the cooling medium.

Abstract: A coarse adjusting device for coarsely positioning a specimen and a probe relative to each other in a scanning tunneling microscope has a main body having a hollow space formed therein, transmission member extending through the hollow space of the main body and screwed at its one end to the main body so as to be moved in one and the other directions as it is rotated about its axis. The transmission member is provided at its portion within the hollow space with a tapered peripheral surface. The coarse adjusting device also has a coarsely-movable member disposed for movement in the direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the transmission member. The coarsely-movable member has one end contacting the tapered surface of the transmission member within the hollow space and the other end extended to the outside of the main body for carrying an object such as a specimen.