Encased Cantilevers and Alternative Scan Algorithms for Ultra-Gantle High Speed Atomic Force Microscopy

Abstract

Live cells and many biological samples readily deform under the minimum force required to perform an AFM measurement precluding imaging at high temporal and spatial resolution. We reduced the force noise of the measurement by building a protective encasement around the cantilever. This keeps the cantilever is dry reducing the fluid viscosity and damping but allows the tip to probe the sample in solution. Encased cantilevers have exceptionally high resonance frequency, Q factor, and detection sensitivity and low force noise enabling gentle high speed imaging. Present raster scan techniques are poorly matched to the instrument limitations of Atomic Force Microscopy making data collection slow. We have used advanced image processing tools such as inpainting to recover high-resolution images from sparse quickly collected images to improve temporal resolution without applying more force or increasing bandwidth. We are also using spiral scanning to increase temporal resolution by allowing higher tip velocities without distortion. Inpainting or interpolation is used to quickly create images from the nongrided data.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide