Optimizing the Quality Factor of Quartz Tuning Fork Force Sensor for Atomic Force Microscopy: Impact of Additional Mass and Mass Rebalance

A force sensor in the heart of an atomic force microscope (AFM) plays a key role in the AFM measurements. Quartz tuning fork (QTF) based force sensor is attracting huge attention due to its peculiar traits such as self-actuating and sensing capability, high quality factor and high force sensitivity. Unfortunately, mounting a tip on a tine of the QTF degrades its quality (Q)-factor and sensitivity. Attaching an equivalent counter mass on the opposite tine (mass rebalance) can improve the Q-factor. We investigate the impact of the attached mass and counter mass on different traits of the QTF such as Q-factor, inherent relationship between excitation voltage and output as well as shift in the resonance frequency. We propose straight forward strategies to rebalance the QTF force sensor. Experimental results demonstrate that by attaching a counter mass (at the parallel position) on the opposite tine, the tip mass can be rebalanced. Q-factor is significantly improved after mass rebalance. The increase in the Q-factor depends on the mass of the tip, counter mass and position of the counter mass relative to the position of the tip (r
_p
).