A virtual instrument to standardise the calibration of atomic force microscope cantilevers

Atomic force microscope(AFM) users often calibrate the spring constants of cantilevers using functionality built into individual instruments. Thiscalibration is performed without reference to a global standard, hindering the robust comparison offorce measurements reported by different laboratories. Here, we describe a virtual instrument (an internet-based initiative) whereby users from all laboratories can instantly and quantitatively compare theircalibrationmeasurements to those of others —standardisingAFM forcemeasurements —and simultaneously enabling non-invasivecalibration ofAFM cantilevers of any geometry. This globalcalibration initiative requires no additional instrumentation or data processing on the part of the user. It utilises a single website where users upload currently available data. A proof-of-principle demonstration of this initiative is presented usingmeasured data from five independent laboratories across three countries, which also allows for an assessment of currentcalibration.

Source: Review of Scientific Instruments - September 27, 2016 Category: Physics Authors: John E. Sader, Riccardo Borgani, Christopher T. Gibson, David B. Haviland, Michael J. Higgins, Jason I. Kilpatrick, Jianing Lu, Paul Mulvaney, Cameron J. Shearer, Ashley D. Slattery, Per-Anders Thor én, Jim Tran, Heyou Zhang, Hongrui Zhang and Tian Zheng Source Type: research