Friction and noise-induced coherent structures in boundary lubrication

We examine the effect of stich-slip boundary conditions on the friction gen erated by a molecularly thin layer of a liquid lubricant separating two pla tes. For one-dimensional compressible flows, noise-induced coherent dissipa tive structures on a micron scare are generated due to cooperation between the external drive and the thermal noise. As a function of the thermal nois e these structures show a peak in their amplitudes similar to stochastic re sonance. At low velocities a reduction in friction with increasing thermal noise is observed.