A LEGO TM Dynamic Force "Macroscope"

Taylor, D.; Smaje, H.; Moriarty, P.

Abstract

We describe the design, construction, and operation of a LEGO TM model of a dynamic force microscope, using magnetic forces as an analog of interatomic interactions. The "macroscope" provides key insights into the operating principles of frequency modulated non-contact atomic force microscopy-currently the scanning probe technique of choice for maximal (i.e. submolecular) spatial resolution-and is therefore particularly suited as a project or demonstration for nanoscience education at the undergraduate or postgraduate level.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 20, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Oct 21, 2020
• Publication Date: Oct 21, 2020
• Deposit Date: Sep 1, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 21, 2020
• Journal: American Journal of Physics
• Print ISSN: 0002-9505
• Publisher: American Association of Physics Teachers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 88
• Issue: 11
• Article Number: 906
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0001700
• Keywords: atomic force microscopy; dynamic force microscopy; nanoscience; education; frequency modula- tion; amplitude modulation
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4872407
• Publisher URL: https://aapt.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1119/10.0001700