# Multislip Friction with a Single Ion

## TL;DR

This study investigates multistable stick-slip friction using a trapped ion in a combined periodic and harmonic potential, revealing dynamic multislip regimes and their weak influence on frictional force and dissipation.

## Contribution

It demonstrates the dynamic realization of multislip friction regimes in a trapped ion system and models the probabilities with an equilibrium Boltzmann approach.

## Key findings

- Multislip regimes occur at smaller corrugations dynamically than statically.
- Probabilities of slipping to various minima fit an equilibrium Boltzmann model.
- Frictional force and dissipation are weakly affected by multistability.

## Abstract

A trapped ion transported along a periodic potential is studied as a paradigmatic nanocontact frictional interface. The combination of the periodic corrugation potential and a harmonic trapping potential creates a one-dimensional energy landscape with multiple local minima, corresponding to multistable stick-slip friction. We measure the probabilities of slipping to the various minima for various corrugations and transport velocities. The observed probabilities show that the multislip regime can be reached dynamically at smaller corrugations than would be possible statically, and can be described by an equilibrium Boltzmann model. While a clear microscopic signature of multislip behavior is observed for the ion motion, the frictional force and dissipation are only weakly affected by the transition to multistable potentials.