Atomic Force Microscopy- “Beam Deflection” Detection
Rev. F
Scanning Probe Microscope Training Notebook
25
12.0 Atomic Force Microscopy- “Beam Deflection” Detection
Used for Contact Mode AFM, Non-contact Mode AFM, and TappingMode AFM. This is the most
widely used form of cantilever deflection detection
Laser light from a solid state diode is reflected off the back of the cantilever and collected by a
position sensitive detector (PSD) consisting of two closely spaced photodiodes whose output signal
is collected by a differential amplifier.
Angular displacement of cantilever results in one photodiode collecting more light than the other
photodiode, producing an output signal (the difference between the photodiode signals normalized
by their sum) which is proportional to the deflection of the cantilever.
It detects cantilever deflections <1Å (thermal noise limited). A long beam path (several cm)
amplifies changes in beam angle.
Output: A-B
B+A
B
A
Split Photodiode Detector
Solid State Laser Diode
Cantilever and Tip