MFM Instructions

(borrowed from the video script, 5/8/13)

This is a tutorial on how to do Magnetic Force Microscopy. This technique, known as MFM for
short, is one of many standard modes that you can perform with Asylum AFMs. You can use it to
map the magnetic signal or the distribution of magnetic domains of an appropriate sample. MFM
is a 2-pass technique where every scan line is actually scanned twice. In the first pass, the tip scans
the surface as it would in regular AC mode. In the second pass, referred to as the Nap pass, the tip
lifts above the surface by a constant height and images the longer-range magnetic forces along that
same scan line. It then repeats this for the next scan line and every scan line thereafter. So before
you get started, it is important to select the right MFM cantilever for your experiment. In addition
to the usual considerations such as tip sharpness and spring constant, MFM cantilevers are also
chosen based on their magnetic coercivity and their magnetic moment. Coercivity refers to the
stability in orientation of the cantilever's magnetic domains. Higher coercivity cantilevers have a
more stable magnetization of the tip. Moment refers to the cantilever's sensitivity to magnetic
fields. The higher the moment, the more sensitive the cantilever will be. But this often comes at
the expense of lateral resolution since a higher moment often requires a thicker coating, which
results in a larger tip radius. If you are unsure what type of tip to use, we'd recommend starting
with the standard Asylum MFM cantilever, with medium magnetic coercivity and moment. More
MFM cantilever types can be found on our online probe store at AsylumResearch.com.
1. Once you have selected a tip, magnetize the domains along the axis of the tip by holding the
cantilever very close to the center of a magnet's face for at least a few seconds. Pull it away
slowly and in the direction perpendicular to the magnet's face. Avoid the corners of the
magnet where the stray field lines may not have a predictable direction. Don't skip this step
- it's easy to forget but essential for performing MFM. (Note that you don't have to do this
for high coercivity cantilevers as they come pre-magnetized.)
2. Load the cantilever into the tip holder just as you normally would. If you wish to practice
this technique before looking at your own samples, any magnetic media samples such as
old hard disks, videotape, audiotape, etc. can be used.
3. Verify your software version is 101010+2013 or newer. MFM works in older versions, but
the Mode Master profile is not optimized.
4. Select the MFM profile in Mode Master.
5. Identify the Nap Panel, which will be used to control the tip in the Nap pass. There are two
columns of parameters in this panel: one column for the surface pass and one column for
the Nap pass. The rule is that unless these checkboxes are checked, a given parameter's
value will be the same for both the surface and the Nap pass, regardless of the values in the
Nap column. Start with the default settings with all of the boxes unchecked.
6. Just as in AC mode, tune the cantilever first. In the Master Panel, click Auto Tune.
7. Check that the set point is close to the free air amplitude. For example, the default Set Point
is 800mV, close to 1V free amplitude.

8. For MFP-3D: Click Engage, and lower the tip until you hear a beep. Then continue to
lower the head until Z-voltage is somewhere in the center of its range, around 70V. For
Cypher: Simply use the automated engage routine after setting the focus on the tip and
then sample, by clicking on "Start Tip Approach". Note: You may want to use the Soft
Engage method to land the tip on the surface.
9. Choose the desired scan size, speed, and points & lines and then click Do Scan.
10. Optimize the imaging as you normally would by adjusting the Set Point and Integral
Gain while observing the trace and retrace lines in the height channel. Tracking the surface
well here is important because during the Nap pass the tip simply plays back this prerecorded surface profile with a small offset in order to fly very close to the surface.
11. After the surface is being tracked well, start optimizing the MFM data in the Nap Phase
image by successively lowering the height at which the tip passes above the surface in the
NAP pass. This is achieved by clicking the downward arrow next to the Delta Height field a
few clicks at a time to lower it from its default value of 50nm. The matching between the
Nap Phase trace and retrace should improve.
12. If your sample is very rough, continue lowering the Delta Height and you will start to see
spikes in either the NAP Phase and/or Nap Amplitude scope traces. Spikes indicate
locations where the tip is starting to just graze the surface. At this point, raise the Delta
Height a little so that the tip will not be unnecessarily blunted during the NAP pass.
13. Go to Nap panel and change the value of the Nap Drive Amplitude to half of the Surface Drive
Amplitude. Then click on the "Swap" checkbox for this setting to be applied. This allows
further lowering of the Delta Height. By lowering the Nap Drive Amplitude by a factor of
two, the cantilever amplitude decreases, which means the Delta Height can be lowered.
Note that Delta Height can actually be negative now. Smaller NAP Drive Amplitude results
in higher MFM spatial resolution. But smaller NAP Drive Amplitude also means lower signal
strength. Continue lowering the Delta Height again and just as before, raise it up by a
couple of clicks when you see spikes in the Nap Amplitude or Nap Phase scope traces. Note
in the future, you may want to start scanning with this checkbox checked and the Nap Drive
Amplitude set to half of whatever the surface Drive Amplitude is, as a starting point.
14. Optimize the image for the desired balance between spatial resolution and signal strength
by either raising or lowering both the NAP Drive Amplitude and Delta Height together.
When lowering these values, lower the NAP Drive Amplitude first as in the previous step.
When raising these values, raise the Delta Height first so as not to damage the tip. Ideally
you will be able to see a strong MFM signal in the Nap phase and amplitude, indicative of
magnetic signal which is independent of sample topography.