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The solution for the observed phenomenon of atomic friction has been found already in 1929 by the british physicist G. A. Tomlinson. He proposed a mechanism, based upon the occurence of instable equilibrium positions of atoms in a conservative potential. He showed that it may be impossible under certain circumstances to have an adiabatic motion of all the atoms involved in the sliding process.
This trail shows the principle oft Tomlinson's mechanism, a mathematical description and let you play with the important parameters within a simple applet.
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