******* Operation Procedure for Near-field Scanning Optical Microscope ******** Read some information about NSOM, there is a good example on Olympus' website: http://www.olympusmicro.com/primer/techniques/nearfield/nearfieldintro.html. Also read the manual and Ashok's User guide instructions Checking before turn on the system - long time no use and safety 1. Check Wiring - use our own diagram 2. Check Probe - properly mounted, and then check under microscope 3. Check knobs position on TOPAZ to protect the device from high voltage - see NSOM manual for default number 4. After switching on, check settings in Quartz software - contact mode & 70 micron 5. Check that the calibration file is correct, or perform the calibration process Initialization 1. Turn everything on, TOPAZ-> Quartz software-> frequency generator & signal processing (order is fine, just read head if software is turned on first) 2. Scan probe frequency - from 33KHz downward 3. Setup Quartz and TOPAZ a. probe frequency (through Gain & Offset) b. reference c. feedback PID (P can be high in the presence of low pass filter) d. scan direction & size e. scan time (10-30ms for 50 micron spatial interval, proportional reduce with size, > a few ms) Routine measurement procedure 1. Load sample - carefully put the sample on the sapphire piece 2. align sample position (X-Y) - through inertial movement of the lower scaner (check with microscope) 3. Bring the tip near surface with screw - Don't let them touch! The same as AFM 4. Use Auto approach on TOPAZ - Never use "coarse approach", it has the same speed and will malfunction sometimes. 5. Scan - optimize if needed (mostly proportional gain & scan time) 6. withdraw the tip use "coarse retract" Calibration - tip or mount changed 1. Follow the instructions in the Calibration and Linearization manual 2. Remember to calibrate with each combination of scanner you need, and load the right file with the scan combination.