Three-dimensional dynamic force spectroscopy measurements on KBr(001): atomic deformations at small tip–sample separations

Abstract

Three-dimensional dynamic force spectroscopy measurements were carried out above KBr(001) at low temperature in order to investigate the distance dependence of the tip–sample interactions. In particular, the recorded 3D frequency shift data as well as the extracted interaction force and potential energy fields were analysed with respect to influences of tip and/or sample deformations. We found that a postprocessing correction of the observed deformations significantly modifies the magnitude of the extracted interaction forces and also the image contrast.