title: Multiple-scanning-probe tunneling microscope with nanoscale positional recognition function.
abstract: Over the past decade, multiple-scanning-probe microscope systems with independently controlled probes have been developed for nanoscale electrical measurements. We developed a quadruple-scanning-probe tunneling microscope (QSPTM) that can determine and control the probe position through scanning-probe imaging. The difficulty of operating multiple probes with submicrometer precision drastically increases with the number of probes. To solve problems such as determining the relative positions of the probes and avoiding of contact between the probes, we adopted sample-scanning methods to obtain four images simultaneously and developed an original control system for QSPTM operation with a function of automatic positional recognition. These improvements make the QSPTM a more practical and useful instrument since four images can now be reliably produced, and consequently the positioning of the four probes becomes easier owing to the reduced chance of accidental contact between the probes.
authors.affiliation: International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan. higuchi.seiji@nims.go.jp
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuramochi
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komatsubara
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Machida
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aono
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Obori
authors.forename: Tomonobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayama