Scanning probe microscopy in an ultra-low vibration closed-cycle cryostat

摘要

We report on state-of-the-art scanning probe microscopy measurementsperformed in a pulse tube based top-loading closed-cycle cryostat with a basetemperature of 4 K and a 9 T magnet. We decoupled the sample space from themechanical and acoustic noise from the cryocooling system to enable scanningprobe experiments. The extremely low vibration amplitudes in our system enabledsuccessful imaging of 0.39 nm lattice steps on single crystalline SrTiO$_{3}$as well as magnetic vortices in Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+x}$superconductor. Fine control over sample temperature and applied magnetic fieldfurther enabled us to probe the helimagnetic and the skyrmion-lattice phases inFe$_{0.5}$Co$_{0.5}$Si with unprecedented signal-to-noise ratio of 20:1.Finally, we demonstrate for the first time quartz-crystal tuning forkshear-force microscopy in a closed-cycle cryostat.