Force spectroscopy

Introduction

This module allows the user to move a trap or the nanostage until a certain force or distance is met. The movement can be either contracting or expanding.

General settings

The following settings are available:

• Top section:

  • Which device will be moved (Trap 1, 2,…. or Nanostage)

  • The movement axis

• Bottom section:

  • Which force channel will be monitored

  • Which distance channel will be monitored

  • Whether movement should loop, like so: Contract -> Expand -> Contract, and so on

  • Stop button to stop the current movement

Contracting movement

The selected device will move across the selected axis until either:

• The monitored force decreases to the value specified on Min force (pN)

• The monitored distance decreases to the value specified on Min distance (μm)

The Speed field specifies the movement speed, and the End pause field determines how many seconds to stop the movement after reaching the target values. The pause is useful when looping the movement, since it stops the movement between a contraction and an expansion.

Expanding movement

The selected device will move across the selected axis until either:

• The monitored force increases to the value specified on Max force (pN)

• The monitored distance increases to the value specified on Max distance (μm)

The Speed field specifies the movement speed, and the End pause field determines how many seconds to stop the movement after reaching the target values. The pause is useful when looping the movement, since it stops the movement between an expansion and a contraction.