Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Energy Dissipation Process in Atomic-Scale Stick-Slip Phenomenon

A molecular dynamics simulation is performed to clarify the energy dissipation process in the atomic-scale friction, particularly with the two-dimensional atomic-scale stick-slip phenomenon as observed in the friction experiment by AFM/FFM. In the present simulation, a well defined Cu{1 0 0} surface is scanned in the direction of with different scan position by a carbon atom probe using a simple model where the effect of cantilever stiffness of the atomic force microscope is taken into consideration. From the simulation results, it is clarified that the dissipated mechanical energy thorough the one or two-dimensional atomic-scale stick-slip phenomenon can be calculated more precisely from the stored elastic energy using the amplitude of stick-slip force signal in each direction than the work calculated using the average friction force.