Troubleshooting Coarse Approach Issues for Atomic Force Microscopy in Ultra-High Vacuum

In attempting non-contact atomic force microscopy, several issues were observed for our novel design of a KoalaDrive approach tube. The most constraining issue was a complete failure of motion under ultra-high vacuum (UHV). To investigate the cause, we tested multiple materials, designs, and procedures for regaining motion. Also, we report on various models used to represent capacitance data and resonance response data from quartz tuning forks. Our results suggest vacuum welding as a likely cause of non-motion; a complete redesign may be needed to image in UHV.