Various types of molecular bearings, gears, joints, etc have recently
been proposed and studied in the growing nanotechnology literature usi
ng classical molecular dynamics. In a previous study, we reported simu
lations for several model graphite bearings using fully atomistic mole
cular dynamics simulations. It was subsequently found that various pre
dictions based on simulations of this type do not agree with those of
a more correct quantum approach owing to leakage of the quantum zero-p
oint vibrational energy in the molecular dynamics simulations. In this
study we use the tools of rigid-body dynamics to address the zero-poi
nt energy problem. The results of these simulations are striking in th
e sense that under certain conditions the bearing is found to be frict
ionless, as previously alluded to by Feynman. A frictionless bearing w
ill undergo 'superrotation', a classical dynamical behavior reminiscen
t of superfluidity. States which are chaotic in nature may not have th
is new characteristic, an issue we investigate with maps of phase spac
e.