Abstract
The probe-sample interactions during the AFM experiments represent a case of a multi-frequency behaviour, since they are characterized by the simultaneous excitation of cantilevers eigenmodes and/or their harmonics. Analysis of the data obtained as a result of the interaction between the probe and the sample is of a particular interest not only from a practical point of view, i.e. obtaining information about the surface of the sample, but also this is an interesting methodological task, since the instantaneous processes resulting from the interaction of the probe with the sample surface carry a huge amount of information. To obtain this information, it is necessary to provide an analysis method that is capable of characterizing all of the excited cantilevers frequencies simultaneously and without averaging. In other words, it is necessary to obtain the complete spectral response of the cantilever interacting with the sample surface, i.e. information about the dynamics of cantilever behaviour in time. The aim of the present work is to show the possibilities of time-frequency analysis techniques in analysing the signals of AFM experiments.
Highlights
AFM signal analysis is performed by using Fourier transform (FT), which provides high accuracy and analysis speed
The wavelet transform (WT) gives a representation of the time evolution of the amplitude, frequency, and phase shift of each of the considered modes and/or cantilever harmonics
Such an advantage of the WT can be used to analyze the signals of any AFM experiments, but it is especially important in analyzing the signals of a multifrequency AFM experiments, since the correlation with time of individual spectral components can provide new information on the behaviour of the cantilever, and on the properties of the surface [1-4]
Summary
AFM signal analysis is performed by using Fourier transform (FT), which provides high accuracy and analysis speed. Signal transformation from time to frequency domain by means of FT makes difficult or impossible the process of attribution of the particular parts of the spectrum to their time of appearance. The Fourier spectrum shows the averaged spectrum corresponding to the state of the system during a certain acquisition time.
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