Low-temperature high-resolution magnetic force microscopy using a quartz tuning fork

We have developed a low-temperature high resolution magnetic force microscope (MFM) using a quartz tuning fork that can operate in a magnetic field. A tuning fork with a spring constant of 1300N∕m mounted with a commercial MFM cantilever tip was used. We have obtained high-resolution images of the stray magnetic fields exerted from grains with a spatial resolution of 15 nm and force resolution of 2 pN at 4.2 K. Tuning fork-based magnetic force microscopes have the potential to be used at millikelvin temperatures due to their low power dissipation and high force sensitivity.