A geometry for optimizing nanoscale magnetic resonance force microscopy

We implement magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM) in an experimental geometry, where the long axis of the cantilever is normal to both the external magnetic field and the rf microwire source. Measurements are made of the statistical polarization of H1 in polystyrene with negligible magnetic dissipation, gradients greater than 105 T/m within 100 nm of the magnetic tip, and rotating rf magnetic fields over 12 mT at 115 MHz. This geometry could facilitate the application of nanometer-scale MRFM to nuclear species with low gyromagnetic ratios and samples with broadened resonances, such as In spins in quantum dots.