Bistability and Hysteresis in the Sliding Friction of a Dimer

TL;DR

This paper investigates the nonlinear sliding friction behavior of a dimer on a periodic substrate, revealing bistability and hysteresis phenomena influenced by temperature, with insights linked to nonlinear oscillator resonance.

Contribution

It introduces a one-dimensional model analyzing bistability and hysteresis in dimer sliding friction, connecting these phenomena to nonlinear oscillator resonance and temperature effects.

Findings

Bistability and hysteresis are observed in dimer sliding friction.

Temperature increases diminish hysteresis and resonant peaks.

Resonance explains many observed nonlinear features.

Abstract

The sliding friction of a dimer moving over a periodic substrate and subjected to an external force is studied in the steady state for arbitrary temperatures within a one-dimensional model. Nonlinear phenomena that emerge include dynamic bistability and hysteresis, and can be related to earlier observations for extended systems such as the Frenkel-Kontorova model. Several observed features can be satisfactorily explained in terms of the resonance of a driven-damped nonlinear oscillator. Increasing temperature tends to lower the resonant peak and wash out the hysteresis.