Quartz tuning-fork type AFM probe operated in Anti-phase Vibration Mode

Abstract

This paper presents that quartz tuning fork shows excellent properties as atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe. We used focused ion beam (FIB) system to monolithically form a sharp tip at the side end of one beam. The fabricated probe can vibrate and detect the deformation itself because of piezoelectric property of crystal quartz. We evaluated the vibration characteristic and the self-detection ability of tuning fork. The tuning fork probe is actuated in two different vibration mode; in-phase and anti-phase mode, and clarified that high Q-factor of 5247 was obtained in anti-phase mode. We further applied this mode for AFM observation and images were successfully with dynamic AFM system