Model for phononic energy dissipation in friction

We have developed a microscopic model of phononic energy dissipation in fri ction that involves the generation of a local excess phonon distribution in a nanoparticle between two sliding objects, and its damping into the objec ts. The conversion of the energy stored in the nanoparticle into excess pho nons and their decay rates are calculated. The model can be extended to inc lude randomly distributed nanoparticles and phonon-phonon interaction throu gh anharmonic couplings. By using this model we present a quantitative anal ysis of energy dissipation in sliding friction. [S0163-1829(99)03523-7].