title: Transition from stick-slip to continuous sliding in atomic friction: entering a new regime of ultralow friction.
abstract: A transition from stick-slip to continuous sliding is observed for atomically modulated friction by means of a friction force microscope. When the stick-slip instabilities cease to exist, a new regime of ultralow friction is encountered. The transition is described in the framework of the Tomlinson model using a parameter eta which relates the strength of the lateral atomic surface potential and the stiffness of the contact under study. Experimentally, this parameter can be tuned by varying the normal load on the contact. We compare our results to a recently discussed concept called superlubricity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Socoliuc
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bennewitz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gnecco
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meyer