Veeco Dimension 3100, Manual, Page: 216 / 376

Lateral Force Mode
Basic LFM Operation
196 Dimension 3100 Manual Rev. D
12.2 Basic LFM Operation
1. Set up and run the system in Contact mode as described in Chapter 6 , assigning the Channel
1 image to Data Type: Height and the Channel 2 image to Data Type: Friction . Set the
Scan angle to 90.00 .
2. Optimize the scan parameters in AFM mode for Channel 1 .
3. For Channel 2 , set Line direction to Trace . This will place high lateral forces on the top of
the color bar and low lateral forces on the bottom of the color bar. If the Line direction
parameter is changed to Retrace , the plus-minus sign of the lateral force changes and low
lateral force will be displayed on the top of the color bar. LFM data can now be collected and
stored.
Note: LFM is a qualitative measurement, not quantitative. NanoScope software does
not provide a way to calibrate the torsional spring constant of a cantilever.
Note: The trace and retrace LFM signals may not be the same magnitude. The tip will
never be exactly perpendicular to the sample. In most cases, internal stress in
the material of the cantilever will cause the cantilever to have a natural bias in
some direction.