Trial manufacture of simple scanning tunneling microscope for teaching the concept of atom

扫描隧道显微镜（STM）是一种非常独特的显微镜，能够在大气条件下观察单个原子。这种能力允许人们在科学教育的早期阶段将其用作在原子概念的研究中提供原子存在的直接证据的工具。然而，STM的商业化才刚刚开始，它们仍然是为研究目的而设计的，并且价格昂贵。本工作旨在建立一个简单、便携的STM，用于原子概念的课堂教学。(1)STM最昂贵的部分，即，控制器和可视化器，被一台普通的个人电脑所取代，这种电脑可以在任何科学课上找到。为此，研制了一种数字控制电路，给出了控制STM的算法，并检验了它与目前研究级STM机械头的兼容性。(2)实验制作了简单、坚固的便携式STM，并检验了它与上述数字控制电路的兼容性。(3)研制了一种便携式扫描隧道显微镜，能获得稳定的石墨原子图像，操作方便。

Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is a highly unique microscope that is capable of observing individual atoms under atmospheric conditions. This cap ability allows one to use it as a tool for providing the direct evidence of the existence of atoms in the study of the concept of atoms in the early stage of science education. Nevertheless, commecialization of STM has just began, and they are still designed for research purposes with inhibitingly high price tag for the use in classes. The present work aimed at building a simple, portable STM that can be used in classes for the teaching of the concept of atoms.The results obtained during the present project are as follows.(1) The most expensive parts of STM, viz., controllers and visualizers, are replaced by a normal personal computer that may be faound in any science classes. For this purpose a digital controll circuit is developed, with algorism for the control of STM.Its compativility with the present research grade STM mechanical head was examined.(2) Simple and sturdy portable STM was experimentally manufactured, and its compatibility with the above digital controll circuit was examined.(3) Thus a portable STM that gives stable graphite atomic images with easy operation was developed.