Abstract
Much of the imaging and spectroscopy capabilities of the existing 20,000+ scanning probe microscopes worldwide relies on specialized data processing that links the microsecond (and sometimes faster) time scale of cantilever motion to the millisecond (and sometimes slower) time scale of image acquisition and feedback. In most SPMs, the cantilever is excited to oscillate sinusoidally and the time-averaged amplitude and/or phase are used as imaging or control signals. Traditionally, the step of converting the rapid motion of the cantilever into an amplitude or phase is performed by phase sensitive homodyne or phase-locked loop detection. The emergence of fast configurable data processing electronics in last several years has allowed the development of non-sinusoidal data acquisition and processing methods. Here, we briefly review the principles and limitations of phase sensitive detectors and discuss some of the emergent technologies based on rapid spectroscopic measurements in frequency- and time domains.
