Mapping real-time images of high-speed AFM using multitouch control.

Conventional AFM is highly restricted by its scan rate, a problem that has been overcome by the development of high-speed AFM systems. As the technology to produce higher scan rates has developed it has pushed forward the design of control software. However, the user interface has not evolved at the same rate, limiting the user to sequential control steps. In this paper we demonstrate the integration of HSAFM with a multitouch interface to produce a highly intuitive and responsive control environment. This enables nanometre resolution to be maintained whilst scanning the sample over tens of microns, and arbitrary paths to be traversed. We illustrate this by scanning around two chromosomes in water, before scanning on top of the chromosome, showing the surface structure.

High-speed AFM of human chromosomes in liquid.

Further developments of the previously reported high-speed contact-mode AFM are described. The technique is applied to the imaging of human chromosomes at video rate both in air and in water. These are the largest structures to have been imaged with high-speed AFM and the first imaging in liquid to be reported. A possible mechanism that allows such high-speed contact-mode imaging without significant damage to the sample is discussed in the context of the velocity dependence of the measured lateral force on the AFM tip.