Reduced density matrix approach to phononic dissipation in friction

Date
2000
Advisor
Instructor
Source Title
Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Print ISSN
0163-1829
Electronic ISSN
Publisher
Volume
62
Issue
15
Pages
10558 - 10564
Language
English
Type
Article
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract

Understanding mechanisms for energy dissipation from nanoparticles in contact with large samples is a central problem in describing friction microscopically. Calculation of the reduced density matrix appears to be the most suitable method to study such systems that are coupled to a large environment. In this paper, the time evolution of the reduced density matrix has been evaluated for an arbitrary system coupled to a heat reservoir. The formalism is then applied to study the vibrational relaxation following the stick-slip motion of an asperity on a surface. The frequency and temperature dependence of the relaxation time is also determined. Predictions of the reduced density matrix are compared with those obtained by using the Golden Rule approach.

Course
Other identifiers
Book Title
Keywords
Calculation, Density, Energy, Friction, Nanoparticle, Prediction, Relaxation time, Temperature dependence
Citation
Published Version (Please cite this version)