OpenLabSPM: Bare bone package of LabVIEW-based scanning probe microscope controller

Abstract

With the extensive proliferation of scanning probe microscopy (SPM)-related technologies, there is a growing demand for a fully customizable SPM controller. In response, we have developed an SPM controller that allows users to incorporate additional functions using LabVIEW, a graphical programming language. This controller incorporates fundamental features such as one-dimensional and two-dimensional scanning, feedback control, and slope compensation. In addition, it includes capabilities to restrict the speed of probe movement and safeguard the probe. Our system consists of a host personal computer (PC) running the Windows operating system and a National Instruments Reconfigurable Input/Output board equipped with a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The FPGA supports real-time deterministic processing, including feedback and probe protection functions, operating asynchronously from the host PC through data exchange via direct memory access first-in-first-out. The system features a graphical user interface on the Windows OS, supplemented by a character-based user interface that utilizes command strings in JavaScript object notation format. Furthermore, we provide wrappers for these commands using the Python programming language. We anticipate that our fully customizable bare born package of LabVIEW-based controller will prove beneficial for researchers utilizing SPM and those managing instruments requiring scanning and feedback control.