TUNNELLING SCANNING MICROSCOPE

摘要

A tunnelling scanning microscope comprising a probe (8) having a fine conductive tip; means (6,7) for positioning the tip of said probe (8) sufficiently close to a surface of a sample (5) to be investigated so that tunnelling current flows; means (13) for scanning across said sample surface with the tip of said probe (8); means (14) for automatically controlling the distance between the tip of said probe (8) and said sample surface during scanning in response to measured tunnel current; and display means for producing an image of the configuration of the sample surface characterised in that a light source (9) is provided for irradiating the sample surface.