Dr. Andrew Dick
Nonlinear Dynamics in Tapping-Mode Atomic Force Microscopy
In this project, the tapping-mode operation of amplitude modulation atomic
force microscopy (AFM) is being studied. Due to the nature of this system,
intrinsic nonlinearities exist which can significantly affect the performance
of the system. These exist in the form of the nonlinear atomic interaction
forces and in the discontinuous boundary condition resulting from the periodic
application of this force. Some of the limitations of these systems include
potential bistable behavior, resulting from these nonlinearities, as well
as the ability of the system to study “soft” samples. Through studying this
system with a wide range of nonlinear analysis tools, the behavior is studied
and methods are developed to improve performance. This study includes analytical
modeling, numerical simulation, and experimental verification with appropriate
analyses incorporated into each phase of the study. The objective of this project
is to gain a better understanding of this complex nonlinear system and to utilize
this knowledge in order to improve the performance of the system for the benefit
of a wide range of research areas.
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