Magnetic force microscope (MFM) has been extensively used for its capability in imaging the magnetic structures at the nanometer scale in the real space. But there are only a few MFMs that can operate at low temperatures and in high magnetic fields so far owing to the highier prices of the commercial instruments and the strict requirements in compact structure, low drift, high rigidity during the process of designing and manufacturing.

Recently, a ultra-simple and highly compact piezoelectric approach motor, named SpiderDrive, has been developed in High Magnetic Field laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences(CHMFL). This drive can walk and scan while using only a single piezotube and it can work in extreme conditions. This greatly simplifies the work of manufacturing and construction of a scanning probe microscope. Based on the SpiderDrive as well as the SM2 superconducting magnet in CHMFL, a research group, headed by Prof. Qingyou LU, reconstructed a specific MFM that can work at helium temperature and in high magnetic fields. They measured the magnetic properties in a Pr0.55(Ca0.75Sr0.25)0.45MnO3 thin film in the fields of 15.0 T, the most recent record up to 17.6 T,which were the highest field MFM results at present.

The result has been published in Ultramicoscopy.The link to the paper:

 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304399114001521.

The MFM images of Pr0.55(Ca0.75Sr0.25)0.45MnO3 thin film

Structure of the MFM scan head with the wiring not shown.