Nanonis Mimea

The expandable engine for your SPM project

The Nanonis Mimea™ SPM control system is used for a wide range of applications ranging from tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to SNOM, non-contact AFM, and special setups for more complex measurements. With the help of adaptation kits the control system adapts to any type of microscope, commercial or home-built. The systems have been used world-wide to produce results that made it to the cover pages of outstanding scientific journals. Reliability, user-friendliness and flexibility are the three principles which guide our development.
Our reliable and user-friendly control system for scanning probe microscopes gives you the freedom to focus on nanoscience without restrictions. Let us do the engineering and you enjoy doing science.

Nanonis Mimea Base Package BP5e

The base package provides all the functions for fundamental SPM applications, in particular STM and contact mode AFM. From signal conditioning and AD/DA conversion to FPGA and real-time signal processing as well as a graphical user-interface, the Nanonis Base Package provides a complete framework that can be adapted and extended with a wide range of add-on modules.

The BP5e is the latest evolution of the Nanonis Mimea^TM SPM control system base package. It combines exceptional signal quality, high speed, and a flexible, powerful and user-friendly software interface. The enhanced BP5e builds on the exceptional performance and signal quality of the BP5 and offers higher speed and more functionality and flexibility.

Please head to the BP5e product page for more details on the Nanonis Mimea^TM SPM control system base package.

Test-drive our controller with all modules included and scan on a virtual Si(111) sample! Register and download our free STM Simulator

Nanonis Mimea Highlights

Fully asynchronous multitasking interface
State of the art hardware performance
Simple integration with almost any SPM
Interactive scan control with easy navigation
High-speed and multipass scanning, high-speed spectroscopy
Highly configurable Z-controller with SafeTip™
Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzer (FFT), data loggers, charts and graphs
Advanced spectroscopy at user-defined point, line, cloud, grid or combined scan-grid.

Nanonis Mimea Software

The software is the instrument! The Nanonis Mimea™ software is based on the latest developments in programming techniques and signal processing. With its modular architecture and multi-window application all data are acquired simultaneously and transmitted to all modules at all times. Only the windows and functions necessary for the current experiment need to be open compared to an interface with a single window that often will have irrelevant sections displayed consuming valuable screen real estate. The window layout and settings can be stored and recalled at the click of a button for quick experiment switching.

With its track record for reliability, the Nanonis controller can significantly increase day-to-day efficiency and productivity. Also, the modern user interface makes it even more enjoyable to master complex scientific experiments.

For more details, please visit the dedicated Nanonis Mimea™software page

Oscillation controller

The Oscillation Controller (OC4) and the related software modules add dynamic and multifrequency AFM capabilities to the Nanonis controller. Imaging modes include but are not limited to: non-contact AFM, intermittent contact mode, phase imaging, dissipation.

With an input bandwidth of 5MHz, the OC4 can operate any type of cantilever, tuning fork, Kolibri sensor™, etc. at its fundamental frequency or higher harmonics. It is also perfect as a digital lock-in and signal analyzer (FFT) up to 5 MHz and can be further extended for Kelvin probe applications or customized in LabVIEW with the Nanonis Programming Interface.

The z-feedback of the SPM software can regulate on any signal coming from the mechanical resonator with any predefined SafeTip™ condition.

Please head to the dedicated oscillation controller page for more details about the Nanonis OC4 and its software

Add-on modules

The Nanonis Mimea™ SPM control system is a modular system meaning that the hardware required for a given experimental situation can be tailored to the user's needs. A series of hardware and software add-on modules is offered to extend the functionality of the Base Package. This is the most flexible and at the same time cost-effective solution. It also offers the best performance since each instrument is highly optimized.

Hardware add-ons include high-voltage amplifiers, piezo motor drivers, adaptation kits for commercial microscopes and various accessories in addition to the Oscillation Controller described above.

Modularity doesn't stop at the hardware level: Modularity of the software is a key advantage in cost optimization and versatility. Additional software modules can be added when experimental needs require them. The addition of new modules does not require any hardware or software installation and can be performed in a vey short time. Test licenses give users the opportunity to test software add-on modules with their experiment before deciding to purchase the module.

See the dedicated Nanonis Mimea™ Add-ons page for more information, or head to the product pages.

Piezo drivers

Low noise, high voltage amplifiers and high-performance piezo motor drivers are an important part of a successful SPM setup.

The Nanonis range of piezo drivers includes:

The Nanonis HVA4 family of high voltage amplfiiers for piezo scanners
The Nanonis PMD4 family of piezo motor drivers

Please head to the HVA4 and PMD4 product pages for more details about these instruments

Adaptation kits

A range of adaptation kits enable seamless integration of the Nanonis control system with most types of commercial SPMs. The adaptation kits are pin-compatible with the microscopes providing plug&play integration.

The following adaptation kits are available:

For more details, please use the links above to reach the adaptation kits product pages

Contact us to find out what it takes to run your microscope with a Nanonis control system in case your SPM is not on the above list.

Accessories

Our range of accessories for SPM applications further extends the capabilities of the Nanonis Mimea™ SPM control system.

The following accessories are available:

Nanonis MCVA5 low-noise, ultra-high impedance voltage preamplifier
Signal adder SA4
BNC adapters for HVA4 and PMD4
Z modulator and AUX modulator for HVA4
SPECS Kolibri preamplifier kit
Femto DLPCA-200 preamplifier kit
Femto DDPCA-300 preamplifier kit
Femto DHPCA-100 preamplifier kit

For more details, please use the links above to reach the accessories product pages

Multiprobe controller

Operating a multiprobe SPM system has never been simpler: The Nanonis Mimea™ multiprobe control system is an easy to use yet scalable solution offering the best performance to cost ratio for any number of probes.

Multiprobe systems typically have between 2 and 5 probes and the control system should be able to handle every possible configuration. Previous solutions were either designed for the maximum number of probes, resulting in an expensive configuration for fewer probes, or used multiple single-probe controllers resulting in complex workflow and poor usability.

Nanonis Mimea™ is a modular platform which easily grows with the number of probes while maintaining a single-controller architecture with all measurements managed and all data handled by one user interface.

STM Simulator

The STM Simulator lets you explore the complete Mimea™ SPM Control System software as if it were connected to a real scanning tunneling microscope (STM) operating on a Si(111) 7x7 surface. A tutorial and online help will guide you step-by-step to your first image and then let you explore the detailed features of the system.

interactive Z Controller with SafeTip options
versatile ScanControl with Manipulation and Lithography features. Multiple pass scanning is enabled.
advanced Spectroscopy: Z spectroscopy, bias spectroscopy, generic spectroscopy - one point, on line, on grid.
digital lock-in detector up to 4 kHz: dI/dV, (dI/dV)/(I/V)...
atom tracking: advanced 2D lock-in for drift and tilt correction
signals monitoring: charts, oscilloscope, FFT, signal history...

It also lets you verify the correct functioning of measurement routines written in the Programming Interface, the scripting module or the TCP interface.

Register and download our free STM Simulator using the link provided below

Hardware and software upgrades

The Nanonis SPM Control System software is constantly evolving with the aim of providing the most advanced solutions for the latest demands of fundamental and applied research. Regular updates (in addition to numerous bug fixes) often include new functionality or support for new add-on modules. Software Version 4 (launched with the BP4 in 2007) has received hundreds of changes over the years including a large number of no cost feature additions through regular updates. Version 5 (launched in 2015) was a complete redesign with significantly improved signal processing, turning the BP4.5 into a BP5 at no cost.

The current development status of the main software versions:

Version 5e is the current actively developed Nanonis software version. New functionalities and new add-on modules will be developed only for this version of the software, and will not be transferred to older versions. V5e software requires a RC5e real-time controller (BP5e or OC4.5e-S)
Version 5 will have limited updates. Some new functionality might be added. V5 software requires a RC5 real-time controller (BP5 or OC4.5-S)
Version 4.5 development is stopped. There are no plans for new functionality to be added to this version of the Nanonis software. V4.5 requires a RC4 real-time controller (BP4). RC4s with serial number below 380 are not supported.
Version 4 development is stopped, meaning that since January 2015 there are no further software updates available. Only critical bugfixes are provided.
Version 3 software is not supported anymore.

Updates within the same software version are free of charge and can be downloaded from the SPECS Zurich extranet site. For upgrades, meaning to a newer version, please contact us for more information.

Please head to the EOL information page for information about support and service for discontinued products

Systems