Biological applications of scanning tunnelling microscopy: novel software algorithms for the display, manipulation and interpretation of STM data

The development of the scanning tunnelling microscope.with its inherent and unique problems associated with image interpretation, has led to the need for specially tailored protocols for post-acquisition data manipulation.In an attempt to address this need.we have developed an integrated visualization system for the concurrent display of complementary data types, both experimental and theoretical, which may themselves be subject to appropriate data processing.The requirement for real-time image manipulation has led to the implementation of the software on high performance computer graphics workstations, with minimal dependence on specific hardware being achieved through adoption of appropriate standards including UNIX, ANSI 'C, PHIGS, and OSFIMotif.Here we demonstrate the potential of this visualization system by its application to physical and biological data sets recorded in our laboratory.