DATA-PROCESSING IN THE EXTRACTION OF PROPERTIES FROM FORCE CURVES FORMAPPING

Properties extracted from force curves obtained by atomic force micros copy (AFM) conducted at various locations on a sample can be mapped to determine their distribution over the sample surface, that is, force curve mapping. Since a huge amount of force curve data must be handled in such mapping, automatic force curve analysis is required. We have developed an algorithm which makes use of a differentiated force curve having peaks at the snap-in and snap-out points of the original force curve and negative values when the AFM tip is in contact with the sam ple surface. This algorithm was applied to various samples.