Scanner for scanning tunneling microscope

摘要

A three-dimensional scanner for moving the probe tip of a scanning tunneling microscope. The scanner has a table equipped with a three-dimensional coarse displacement mechanism. Two xy piezoelectric transducers are so mounted that they can expand in the xy plane perpendicular to the z-axis along which the probe tip extends. The xy transducers are mounted to the table at their rear ends such that they almost intersect each other at right angles at their front ends. A support member is mounted to the almost intersecting front ends of the xy piezoelectric transducers. A z piezoelectric transducer is attached to the support member. This z transducer produces shear deformations in the z-direction. Electrodes are attached to both faces of each of all these piezoelectric transducers. Appropriate voltages are applied to the electrodes to move the probe tip over quite short distances in three dimensions.