title: Multibond dynamics of nanoscale friction: the role of temperature.
abstract: The main challenge in predicting sliding friction is related to the complexity of highly nonequilibrium processes, the kinetics of which are controlled by the interface temperature. Our experiments reveal a nonmonotonic enhancement of dry nanoscale friction at cryogenic temperatures for different material classes. Concerted simulations show that it emerges from two competing processes acting at the interface: the thermally activated formation as well as rupturing of an ensemble of atomic contacts. These results provide a new conceptual framework to describe the dynamics of dry friction.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Itay
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urbakh
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schirmeisen
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization; D017276:Friction; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors