Numerical analysis of vibration modes of a qPlus sensor with a long tip

• Kebei Chen,
• Zhenghui Liu,
• Yuchen Xie,
• Chunyu Zhang,
• Gengzhao Xu,
• Wentao Song and
• Ke Xu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 82–92, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.7

• the optimal diameter was found to be 0.1 mm. Keywords: finite element method; long tilted tip; noncontact atomic force microscopy; qPlus sensor; quartz tuning fork; simulations; Introduction Quartz tuning forks are widely used in the watch industry because of their low frequency offset over a wide

• temperature range [1]. In addition, quartz tuning forks have a high elastic constant, a high quality factor (Q factor), and are self-sensing due to the piezoelectric effect [1]. Therefore, a quartz tuning fork can be used as a force sensor. The central part of the “qPlus sensor” is a quartz tuning fork of

Optimizing qPlus sensor assemblies for simultaneous scanning tunneling and noncontact atomic force microscopy operation based on finite element method analysis

• Omur E. Dagdeviren and
• Udo D. Schwarz

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 657–666, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.70

• , Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA 10.3762/bjnano.8.70 Abstract Quartz tuning forks that have a probe tip attached to the end of one of its prongs while the other prong is arrested to a holder (“qPlus” configuration) have gained considerable popularity in recent years for high-resolution atomic

• ; noncontact atomic force microscopy; quartz tuning forks; scanning tunneling microscopy; self-sensing probe; Introduction Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) [1] and non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) [1][2][3] are powerful methods allowing the visualization of the atomic structure of a surface

• information, when a conducting probe is attached to the end of the oscillator [5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Towards this end, microfabricated cantilevers [15][16][17], length-extension resonators [18][19][20], and quartz tuning forks in the so-called “qPlus” configuration, in which one of the prongs of the fork is

Length-extension resonator as a force sensor for high-resolution frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy in air

• Hannes Beyer,
• Tino Wagner and
• Andreas Stemmer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 432–438, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.38

• avoid stability issues such as “jump-to-contact” while working with small amplitudes, sensors with a high stiffness, e.g., short cantilevers, quartz tuning forks, or length-extension resonators are required [3]. In UHV tuning forks have outperformed conventional cantilevers because the high stiffness (k

A simple method for the determination of qPlus sensor spring constants

• John Melcher,
• Julian Stirling and
• Gordon A. Shaw

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1733–1742, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.177

• based on quartz tuning forks [25][26][27][28][29], no comprehensive framework yet exists due to inconsistencies between results from different methods. qPlus sensors are stiff compared to traditional microcantilever sensors and present their own set of spring constant calibration challenges. A common

Nanomanipulation and environmental nanotechnology

• Enrico Gnecco,
• Andre Schirmeisen,
• Carlos M. Pina and
• Udo Becker

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 2079–2080, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.216

• nanoparticles on enamel is important in dental applications, as shown by AFM nanomanipulation experiments. The motion of nanoparticles on a surface can be also driven by quartz tuning forks coupled to scanning electron microscopy. As mentioned above, these techniques hold great potential for a better

Calibration of quartz tuning fork spring constants for non-contact atomic force microscopy: direct mechanical measurements and simulations

• Jens Falter,
• Marvin Stiefermann,
• Gernot Langewisch,
• Philipp Schurig,
• Hendrik Hölscher,
• Harald Fuchs and
• André Schirmeisen

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 507–516, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.59

• -Leopoldshafen, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.5.59 Abstract Quartz tuning forks are being increasingly employed as sensors in non-contact atomic force microscopy especially in the “qPlus” design. In this study a new and easily applicable setup has been used to determine the static spring constant at several positions

• scale usually demand well defined environments, such as ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) and low temperatures (LT). For these conditions, force sensors based on quartz tuning forks in the “qPlus” design [5] have been proven to routinely provide stable operation and sufficient sensitivity to achieve the highest

Impact of thermal frequency drift on highest precision force microscopy using quartz-based force sensors at low temperatures

• Florian Pielmeier,
• Daniel Meuer,
• Daniel Schmid,
• Christoph Strunk and
• Franz J. Giessibl

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 407–412, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.48

• attractive, with quartz tuning forks (TF) in the “qPlus” configuration (Figure 1c–f) [15] and length extensional resonators (LER) as the so called “needle sensor” (Figure 1a) [16]. Quartz resonators are usually designed and characterized for room temperature applications. Their remarkable frequency stability

Characterization of the mechanical properties of qPlus sensors

• Jan Berger,
• Martin Švec,
• Martin Müller,
• Martin Ledinský,
• Antonín Fejfar,
• Pavel Jelínek and
• Zsolt Majzik

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 1–9, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.1

• . All remaining parts can be considered as constants because (i) we assume the Young’s modulus to be constant for quartz tuning forks; and (ii) we found from repeated measurements that variations in t and w are negligible (less than ±2 μm) for our purposes. The dimensions of the prong were determined by

Spring constant of a tuning-fork sensor for dynamic force microscopy

• Dennis van Vörden,
• Manfred Lange,
• Merlin Schmuck,
• Nico Schmidt and
• Rolf Möller

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 809–816, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.90

• taking account of the real geometry including the glue that is used to mount the tuning fork. Keywords: atomic force microscopy; finite element method; spring constant; thermal fluctuation; tuning fork; Introduction Quartz tuning forks provide excellent self-sensing probes in scanning probe microscopy

Simultaneous current, force and dissipation measurements on the Si(111) 7×7 surface with an optimized qPlus AFM/STM technique

• Zsolt Majzik,
• Martin Setvín,
• Andreas Bettac,
• Albrecht Feltz,
• Vladimír Cháb and
• Pavel Jelínek

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 249–259, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.28

• , piezoelectric quartz tuning forks similar to those used as frequency references in watches. The configuration when one of the prongs is attached to a solid substrate and the free prong acts as a cantilever with the capability of self-sensing, is called qPlus, named by Giessibl [12]. One of the largest benefits

qPlus magnetic force microscopy in frequency-modulation mode with millihertz resolution

• Maximilian Schneiderbauer,
• Daniel Wastl and
• Franz J. Giessibl

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 174–178, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.18

• combined STM/AFM measurements with atomic resolution [10]. However, in standard MFM experiments, this large k, in combination with the resonance frequency f0 ≈ 31000 Hz, leads to very small frequency shifts (Equation 1). Whereas MFM experiments employing quartz tuning forks, with both prongs oscillating