Load dependence of lateral force and energy dissipation at NaF(001) surface

We report the load dependence of the lateral force and the energy dissipati on occurring at a tip-NaF(001) interface. Clear sublattice periodic maps of the lateral force consisting of large and small peaks appear at loading fo rces below tens of pN and even at negative loading forces. As loading force is increased, only large peaks remain, representing lattice periodicity. T he behavior of the stick-slip lateral fords is completely consistent with t hat of the energy dissipation calculated from the frictional loops. At a lo ad of around 6 nN, an abrupt increase in the lateral force occurs, causing a large deformation of the surface. The load dependence of the lateral forc e is attributed to that of the contact area between the tip-NaF(001) interf ace. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.