Lab Manual: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
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Revision as of 21:32, 4 June 2010 by Steven Nagle (Talk | contribs)
Objectives and learning goals
- Learn function of the 20.309 AFM and the relationships between its components.
- Understand how to extract quantitative information from this tool.
- Use the AFM to estimate the value of a fundamental physical constant.
- Possibly to take images, probe sample stiffness, and/or perform protein pulling.
- Analyze sources of uncertainty and noise in the system that limit the accuracy of measurements.
Roadmap scenarios and milestones
The AFM can be used both for A basic "mini-lab" homework problem, and also for more involved projects. This section will outline the mini-lab and provide one possible outline for a more involved project. You are encouraged to devise much more creative uses for the AFM in final projects and beyond.
AFM mini-lab
- Work with a TA or Instructor.
- Learn the signal paths and connections of the system.
- Practice aligning the AFM optics.
- Learn how to calibrate the AFM to extract useful physical data.
- Measure the vibrational noise floor in the AFM system.
- Use the AFM to record the vibrational noise spectrum of a cantilever probe (Experiment ##)