Velocity-dependent threshold behavior of wearless nano-friction as studied in terms of spatial distribution of the local quasi-temperature

Some laws of friction accompanying steady sliding motion between crystal lattices constituting a nano-electromechanical system (NEMS) were revealed by molecular dynamics simulations using simplified models. A threshold phenomenon was predicted as a common feature characterizing dependence of the wearless-frictional resistance on the sliding velocity. A simple relationship was found between the threshold sliding velocity and the lattice-constant ratio. A further insight into the heat-generation dynamics was provided by the analysis of the spatial distribution of the local quasi-temperature. These results suggested an atomistic mechanism of energy dissipation underlying the threshold characteristics.