The Surrey STM: Construction, development, and evaluation of a scanning tunneling microscope

Abstract

A scanning tunneling microscope has been built together with the necessary controlling electronics. Currently this is used at atmospheric pressure but is capable of use under vacuum with minor modifications. Trials of the system, and subsequent adjustments, have taken place using highly oriented pyrolitic graphite and gold evaporated on silicon samples. Good and versatile control of tunneling current was achieved. We report on the design, development, construction, and evaluation of the instrument. Preliminary results illustrating reproducible topographical images are presented and discussed. Gap‐versus‐bias voltage and gap‐versus‐tunneling current characteristics are also presented and discussed.