Apparatus and method for improving tuning of a probe-based instrument

1. A method of operating a probe-based instrument comprising the steps of:

providing a probe assembly and a probe holder;

oscillating a probe of the probe assembly with an actuator that generates oscillation energy; and

mounting the probe assembly on the probe holder so as to substantially eliminate interference with the oscillation energy coupled to the tip, wherein said mounting step includes placing a surface of the probe assembly adjacent to an interface surface of the probe holder, and wherein a contact surface area of the probe assembly surface is substantially less than a a surface area of the interface surface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the probe holder such that the actuator defines the interface surface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probe assembly surface includes at least one opening formed therein.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the interface surface includes a plurality of openings formed therein.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of openings are equally spaced such that the probe assembly surface is a grid.

6. A probe assembly for a scanning probe microscope, the probe assembly comprising:

a base having two substantially opposed surfaces;

a cantilever extending from said base and supporting a tip; and

wherein the probe assembly is mounted in a probe holder such that a probe holder surface contacts one of said opposed surfaces, and wherein at least one of said one opposed surface and said probe holder surface includes at least one opening such that the contact surface area of the at least one surface having at least one opening is substantially less than the surface area of the other of said probe holder surface and said one opposed surface.

7. The probe assembly of claim 6 , wherein said contact surface area of said one opposed surface is defined by a perimeter region.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a probe holder including an actuator that produces an oscillation energy, said actuator defining a probe holder surface;

a probe assembly having a tip and a probe assembly surface; and

wherein said probe assembly is mounted in said probe holder so as to provide space to accommodate contamination between said probe holder and said probe assembly; and

wherein said probe holder surface interfaces with said probe assembly surface such that said probe holder surface and said probe assembly surface are substantially parallel.

9. The scanning probe microscope of claim 8 , wherein said probe assembly is mounted such that said probe assembly surface contacts said probe holder surface, and wherein a contact surface area of said probe assembly surface is substantially less than the surface area of said probe holder surface.

10. The scanning probe microscope of claim 9 , wherein said probe assembly surface includes at least one opening to accommodate the contamination.

11. The scanning probe microscope of claim 10 , wherein said at least one opening includes a plurality of equally spaced openings.

12. The scanning probe microscope of claim 9 , wherein said probe assembly surface is formed to substantially eliminate oscillation resonances other than the characteristic oscillation resonance of a probe of the probe assembly.

13. A method of operating a probe-based instrument comprising the steps of:

providing a probe assembly and a probe holder;

generating an oscillation energy;

oscillating a tip of the probe assembly with the oscillation energy; and

mounting the probe assembly on the probe holder so as to substantially eliminate unwanted resonance peaks in a resonance curve associated with the probe-based instrument, wherein said mounting step includes forming at least one opening in a base of the probe assembly so as to accommodate contaminant material.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said opening lies generally adjacent to a surface of the probe holder.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the probe holder surface is defined by an actuator.

16. A scanning probe microscope comprising:

a probe having a surface;

a probe holder having an interface surface, said probe holder retaining said probe such that said probe surface is adjacent to said interface surface; and

wherein said probe surface and said interface surface are configured to accommodate contaminant material when coupled so as to substantially eliminate unwanted resonance peaks in a resonance curve associated with the probe.