z calibration of the atomic force microscope by means of a pyramidal tip

A new method for imaging the probe tip of an atomic force microscope cantilever by the atomic force microscope itself (self-imaging) is presented. The self-imaging is accomplished by scanning the probe tip across a sharper tip on the surface. By using a pyramidal probe tip with a very well-defined aspect ratio, this technique provides an excellent z-calibration standard for the atomic force microscope.