Abstract
Using the averaging method and Melnikov techniques, we study the dynamics of microcantilevers in tapping mode atomic force microscopy. When the distance between the tip and sample surface is relatively large and the van der Waals force has only a secondary influence on the dynamics of the microcantilever, theoretical explanations for some findings of numerical computations and experimental measurements in the previous work are given. Moreover, when the tip is closer to the sample surface and the van der Waals force has a primary influence, it is shown that abundant bifurcation behavior and chaotic motions occur.
