RTSPM: Real-time Linux control software for scanning probe microscopy

TL;DR

This paper introduces RTSPM, an open-source real-time Linux control software for scanning probe microscopy that simplifies hardware requirements by using a single computer and data acquisition card, enabling fast data acquisition and control.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel open-source control software for scanning probe microscopes that operates on a single computer with real-time Linux, reducing hardware complexity and cost.

Findings

Successfully acquired images from simulated and standard samples.

Demonstrated fast data acquisition and control capabilities.

Maintained responsive GUI during operation.

Abstract

Real time computer control is an essential feature of scanning probe microscopes, which have become essential tools for the characterization and investigation of nanometer scale samples. Most commercial (and some open-source) scanning probe data acquisition software uses digital signal processors (DSPs) to handle the real time data processing and control, which adds to the expense and complexity of the control software. We describe here scan control software that uses a single computer and a data acquisition card to acquire scan data. The computer runs an open-source real time Linux kernel, which permits fast acquisition and control while maintaining a responsive graphical user interface. Images from a simulated tuning-fork based microscope as well as a standard topographical sample are also presented, showing some of the capabilities of the software.