基于Linux的单机全数字控制的扫描探针显微镜

Scanning probe microscope controlled by single personal computer with Linux

扫描探针显微镜的全数字控制通常采用数字信号处理器来进行,而PC机只辅助进行数据处理和显示。本文给出一种新的全数字控制方案,即在普通PC机上使用修改了内核的Linux操作系统实现对扫描探针显微镜进行多线程、高精度的实时控制。这种方法省掉了数字信号处理器的硬件开销及其与PC机通信部分的技术投入,而充分利用PC机自身强大的运算和编程功能,实现了对扫描探针进行任意方式的操控。此方法已成功应用于一套实验室自制的超高真空扫描隧道显微镜中,得到了清洁Si(111)表面7×7重构的原子分辨像。

Completely digital control of scanning probe microscopes is currently performed by using a digital signal processor, together with a personal computer that save and display data. In this paper, we presented a new solution for such type of control, which uses Linux operating system with a modified kernel on a normal personal computer to carry out multithread calculations. In this way, we full utilize the powerful function of a normal personal computer in calculation and programming, and manipulate a scanning probe in any required way, without any digital signal processor and related technical know-how. The solution has been applied to an ultra high vacuum scanning tunneling microscope, and acquired atom resolution image of 7 × 7 reconstruction on clean Si（ 111 ） surface.