Difference between revisions of "Atomic microscope"

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(extremely low-cost scanning tunneling microscope ideas)
(possibly related projects, etc.)
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''I don't know. I guess I will try to re-create the project here.''
 
''I don't know. I guess I will try to re-create the project here.''
  
I remember someone posted plans for an atomic-resolution scanning microscope on the web.
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Open-hardware plans for an atomic-resolution scanning microscope.
Too bad his website went offline.
 
  
 
Juergen Mueller has some detailed plans.
 
Juergen Mueller has some detailed plans.
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* [http://sxm4.uni-muenster.de/stm-de/ Das Rastertunnelmikroskop]
 
* [http://sxm4.uni-muenster.de/stm-de/ Das Rastertunnelmikroskop]
 
* [http://www.stm-diy.ch/ "Scanning Tunneling Microscope - Do It Yourself"]
 
* [http://www.stm-diy.ch/ "Scanning Tunneling Microscope - Do It Yourself"]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20080106164837/http://www.biophysik.physik.uni-muenchen.de/PlasticAFM/ "How to build a Plastic-AFM head"]: The performance of this instrument has been investigated in a paper<ref>
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* [http://web.archive.org/web/20080106164837/http://www.biophysik.physik.uni-muenchen.de/PlasticAFM/ "How to build a Plastic-AFM head"]: The performance of this instrument has been investigated in a paper (Kühner 2007)
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Ferdinand Kühner, Robert A. Lugmaier, Steffen Mihatsch, and Hermann E. Gaub,
 
Ferdinand Kühner, Robert A. Lugmaier, Steffen Mihatsch, and Hermann E. Gaub,
 
"Print your atomic force microscope",
 
"Print your atomic force microscope",
 
Rev. Sci. Instrum. 78, 075105 (2007).  
 
Rev. Sci. Instrum. 78, 075105 (2007).  
</ref>
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* [http://www.google.com/custom?domains=makezine.com&sitesearch=makezine.com&q=scanning+tunneling+microscope Makezine: scanning tunneling microscope] mentions
 
* [http://www.google.com/custom?domains=makezine.com&sitesearch=makezine.com&q=scanning+tunneling+microscope Makezine: scanning tunneling microscope] mentions
 
** [http://www.geocities.com/spm_stm/Project.html Simple STM Project] uses an extremely low cost piezo element ($1.80) compared to the $200+ piezo tube used in other STMs.
 
** [http://www.geocities.com/spm_stm/Project.html Simple STM Project] uses an extremely low cost piezo element ($1.80) compared to the $200+ piezo tube used in other STMs.
  
  
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== Related projects ==
  
<references/>
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* Is anyone working on an open-hardware [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth%27s_field_NMR Earth's field nuclear magnetic resonance (EFNMR)]? That is a completely different way of making atomic-resolution measurements of (sufficient quantities of) some molecule.
 
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* Is it possible to reprogram a [[Projects#RepRap | RepRap ]] to build an atomic microscope?
  
  
 
[[Category:Projects]]
 
[[Category:Projects]]

Revision as of 16:18, 5 September 2009

Whatever happened to the homebrew Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) project? I don't know. I guess I will try to re-create the project here.

Open-hardware plans for an atomic-resolution scanning microscope.

Juergen Mueller has some detailed plans. http://www.e-basteln.de/

Parts needed for an STM:

  • computer
  • computer-to-analog interface
  • analog to high-voltage analog amplifiers
  • piezo tube (are there any other alternatives for atomic-resolution positioning?)
  • mounting hardware
  • vibration isolation hardware (cases, rubber feet, bungee cords, etc.)
  • tips (there seem to be a wide variety of prices)
  • ... what am I missing ? ...

What's the total cost?

I've heard that some people run their STMs "in solution", the tip of the probe scanning the bottom of a dish of water. So, contrary to popular belief, you do *not* need a vacuum chamber. Some can run successfully in air, too.

... help fill in the details ...


software

  • Gwyddion ( http://gwyddion.net/ ) is a modular program for SPM (scanning probe microscopy) data visualization and analysis. Gwyddion is intended for analysis of height fields obtained by means of scanning probe microscopy techniques (AFM, MFM, STM, SNOM/NSOM), but generally it can be used for any other height field and image analysis. GPL.
  • GXSM is the Gnome X Scanning Microscopy project ( http://gxsm.sourceforge.net/ ) ... hardware support for DSP cards including open source DSP software and a growing set of SPM related electronics... also provides generic multidimensional image and data movie processing. GXSM screenshot.

further reading

Ferdinand Kühner, Robert A. Lugmaier, Steffen Mihatsch, and Hermann E. Gaub, "Print your atomic force microscope", Rev. Sci. Instrum. 78, 075105 (2007).


Related projects