Adhesive energy, force and barrier height between simple metal surfaces

Abstract

Using the self-consistent field pseudopotential method we calculated the adhesive energy, perpendicular and lateral forces and barrier height between two rigid A1(001) slabs modeling the sample and a blunt tip. We found that the adhesive energy and forces are site specific, and can lead to a significant corrugation in the constant force mode with negative force gradient. Lateral forces, which determine friction on the atomic scale are not simply proportional to the perpendicular force, and are typically one order of magnitude smaller. Our results confirm that perpendicular tip force and barrier height are interrelated for separations where the force gradient is positive. © 1992.