title: Induced water condensation and bridge formation by electric fields in atomic force microscopy.
abstract: We present an analytical model that explains how, in humid environments, the electric field near a sharp tip enhances the formation of water menisci and bridges between the tip and a sample. The predictions of the model are compared with experimental measurements of the critical distance where the field strength causes bridge formation.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. sgomezmonivas@lbl.gov
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Sacha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verdaguer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salmeron