20.04.2006 |
Bacterial motors and switches studied at the single molecule level
Prof. Dr. B. Maier, Institut für Allgemeine Zoologie und Genetik, WWU Münster
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Tribology describes the science of friction, wear and lubrication of contacting surfaces in relative motion. In the ongoing endeavour to miniaturize machines with moving components, there is currently a trade-off between reliability and degree of miniaturization. Since the volume to surface ratio decreases rapidly for miniaturized devices, surface forces become increasingly important if not dominant. This has created tremendous efforts to understand the molecular origins of macroscopic friction and adhesion.
At the same time the field of tribology has experienced much progress through the development of new techniques, like the atomic force microscope, which allow the characterization of nanoscale contacts. In this talk recent experimental efforts are outlined, which are aimed at the understanding of the fundamental laws that govern tribological processes at the molecular scale. I will present experiments, which reveal phenomena that are unique to the atomic length scale, such as the velocity dependence of stick-slip friction and the self-healing of defects. Finally, I will show how to use a single atom as a probe to map the atomic interaction potential of surfaces in real space. These potentials govern a multitude of surface and interface phenomena, such as diffusion, crystalline growth and catalytic reactions.
Einladender: Prof. Dr. G. Münster
| Ort: |
Wilhelm-Klemm-Str. 10, IG I, HS 2 |
| Zeit: |
donerstags 16 Uhr c.t. |
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Kolloquiums-Kaffee ab 15:45 Uhr vor dem Hörsaal |
Im Auftrag der Hochschullehrer des Fachbereichs Physik
Prof. Dr. S. Demokritov
