What is the "Dark Lift"?

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Ian Armstrong replied on Tue, Sep 13 2011 3:46 AM

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Verified by Hao Zheng

Hi Hao Zheng,

"Dark Lift" simply turns the laser off during the interleave scan lines. Interleave and lift mode should be well documented in the manuals. You cannot use the Dark Lift technique for Force based modes such as EFM/ MFM/ KFM as you definitely need the laser on in the lift scan line. Dark lift is useful for techniques such as TUNA/ CAFM/ SCM where it can reduce artefacts caused by the laser spilling over the cantilever onto the sample. When using in this way it is somewhat ambiguous calling it "Dark Lift" as you may not be lifting the probe at all, you could work with a lift height of zero and simply retrace the exact same path of the main scan line.

Ian