A simple, ultrahigh vacuum compatible scanning tunneling microscope for use at variable temperatures

Abstract

We present the construction of a very compact scanning tunneling microscope ͑STM͒ which can be operated at temperatures between 4 and 350 K. The tip and a tiny tip holder are the only movable parts, whereas the sample and the piezoscanner are rigidly attached to the body of the STM. This leads to an excellent mechanical stability. The coarse approach system relies on the slip-stick principle and is operated by the same piezotube which is used for scanning. As an example of the performance of the device, images of a NbSe 2 surface with atomic resolution are obtained.

Design, operation, and motion characteristics of a precise piezoelectric linear motor

“…Fig. 2(a) shows the stick-slip approach, which has been used in several instruments [10,11,20]. A slider that is coupled to piezoelectric actuators by friction is slowly translated a small step (stick), and then the actuators rapidly jerk back to their initial position.…”

“…This approach is restricted to motion in a horizontal plane, unless a preload or clamping mechanism presses the slider against the actuators. For vertical motion, Renner et al [11] preloaded the slider with a mechanical spring, and Mugele et al [20] used a magnetic clamp. The stick-slip principle is also used in the commercially available Picomotor TM actuators [21].…”

Piezoelectric Inertia Motors—A Critical Review of History, Concepts, Design, Applications, and Perspectives

“…In the case of piezoelectric inertia motors, ambiguity starts with inconsistent naming in the literature. The movement cycle consisting of stick and slip phases as shown in Figure 1 has sparked terms like "stick-slip mechanism", "drive", "actuator", or "motor" [41,51,97,[102][103][104][105][106][107], which are mostly used for fixed actuator motors. However, these terms are not always appropriate, and also not unambiguous.…”

New design of a variable-temperature ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope

“…The operation and performance of this linear motor are described elsewhere. 8,12 Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of the STM. The central part consists of the just mentioned linear motor ͓Fig.…”

“…It is based on a prototype that we already presented earlier. 8 Like in that prototype, we use an inertial slider for the coarse approach of the tip. The tip is mounted in a tiny tip holder which is forced onto parallel tracks 9 by a magnet ͑see Fig.…”