RADIAL-HISTOGRAM TRANSFORM OF SCANNING-PROBE-MICROSCOPE IMAGES

A transform is described for analysing scanning-probe-microscope image s. This radial-histogram transform is shown to contain useful informat ion for ascertaining the structure of an object in a scanning-probe-mi croscope image. The radial-histogram transform also allows quantitativ e assessment of tip dilation effects. The utility of the transform is illustrated by analysing a noncontact atomic force microscope image of a nanometer size Au cluster supported on a mica substrate. Using the radial-histogram transform, detailed information about the faceting, s tructure, and orientation of the supported nanometer-size cluster is o btained.