Contact hysteresis between sliding interfaces is a widely observed phenomenon from macro- to nanoscale sliding interfaces. Most such studies are done using an atomic force microscope (AFM) where the sliding speed is a few $\mu \mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}$. Here, we present a unique study on stiction between the head-disk interface of commercially available hard disk drives, wherein the vertical clearance between the head and the disk is of the same order as in various AFM-based fundamental studies but with a sliding speed that is nearly 6 orders of magnitude higher. We demonstrate that, although the electrostatic force (dc or ac voltage) is an attractive force, the ac-voltage-induced out-of-plane oscillation of the head with respect to the disk is able to completely suppress the contact hysteresis.

• Received 24 July 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.026101