User`s guide

Introduction to the Agilent 5500 1
Agilent 5500 SPM User’s Guide 17
Overview of Agilent SPM System
The main component of the Agilent 5500 SPM system is the microscope
(Figure 1), which includes the X/Y motion controls, scanner,
high-resolution probe/tip, and detector. The control system for the
microscope includes, at minimum, a high-speed computer, AFM
controller and Head Electronics Box. Optional components include
additional electronics, specialized scanners and probes for particular
SPM techniques, and an environmental enclosure to control acoustic
and vibration noise.
Figure 1 The Agilent 5500 SPM microscope, shown with optional
environmental chamber
In this User’s Guide we will begin with a brief introduction to Scanning
Probe Microscopy techniques. The sections that follow will show you
how to handle the 5500 SPM components and how to image in the
available modes.