The conservative and dissipative interaction between an aluminum tip and a gold (111) surface were investigated using dynamic force spectroscopy in UHV. Complete force vs distance curves and friction coefficient vs distance curves were obtained quantitatively. The force curves were compared to the model by Muller, Yushenko, and Derjaguin, and long and short range interactions were subsequently quantified without fit parameters. A short range conservative interaction was separated from longer range van der Waals forces. The long range behavior of the damping coefficient obeys an inverse power law of third order.

• Received 25 October 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.2597