Single-atom contact mechanics: from atomic scale energy barrier to mechanical relaxation hysteresis |
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Authors: | Schirmeisen André Weiner Domenique Fuchs Harald |
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Institution: | Physikalisches Institut, Westf?lische Wilhelms-Universit?t Münster, Wilhelm-Klemm-Strasse 10, 48149 Münster, Germany. schirmeisen@uni-muenster.de |
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Abstract: | The potential energy landscape of surfaces governs the dynamics of adsorbed molecules, as well as atomic scale friction processes. We measure the potential energy landscape of a single-atom tip interacting with a vicinal nonconducting NaCl(100) surface in real space using noncontact atomic force microscopy. We find that the shape of the potential energy profile is of sinusoidal form with a barrier height of 48 meV. Furthermore, we observe a discontinuity in the force curves at specific lattice sites, indicating the onset of reversible yet hysteretic mechanical relaxations. |
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