%0 Journal Article
%T Drive-amplitude-modulation atomic force microscopy: From vacuum to liquids
%A Miriam Jaafar
%A David Mart¨ªnez-Mart¨ªn
%A Mariano Cuenca
%A John Melcher
%J Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
%D 2012
%I 
%R 10.3762/bjnano.3.38
%X We introduce drive-amplitude-modulation atomic force microscopy as a dynamic mode with outstanding performance in all environments from vacuum to liquids. As with frequency modulation, the new mode follows a feedback scheme with two nested loops: The first keeps the cantilever oscillation amplitude constant by regulating the driving force, and the second uses the driving force as the feedback variable for topography. Additionally, a phase-locked loop can be used as a parallel feedback allowing separation of the conservative and nonconservative interactions. We describe the basis of this mode and present some examples of its performance in three different environments. Drive-amplutide modulation is a very stable, intuitive and easy to use mode that is free of the feedback instability associated with the noncontact-to-contact transition that occurs in the frequency-modulation mode.
%K atomic force microscopy
%K control systems
%K dissipation
%K frequency modulation
%K noncontact
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.3.38