Stick-Slip Motion in Spite of a Slippery Contact: Do We Get What We See in Atomic Friction?

S. Yu. Krylov, J. A. Dijksman, W. A. van Loo, and J. W. M. Frenken
Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 166103 – Published 20 October 2006

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy provides direct atomic-scale access to friction. In this paper, unexpected and potentially dramatic consequences of the tip elasticity are discussed. Under certain natural conditions an essentially new, nontrivial regime can be entered. Although the tip appears to perform typical stick-slip motion, the tip-surface contact is fully “lubricated” by fast thermal motion of the tip apex. The interpretation of the observations needs to be changed completely in this case.

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  • Received 13 July 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.166103

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

S. Yu. Krylov, J. A. Dijksman, W. A. van Loo, and J. W. M. Frenken

  • Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

  • *Permanent address: Institute of Physical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect 31, 119991 Moscow, Russia. Email address: krylov@redline.ru

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Issue

Vol. 97, Iss. 16 — 20 October 2006

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