Author

Gady B, Schleef D, Reifenberger R, Rimai D, and DeMejo LP.

Institution

Dept. of Phys., Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN, USA.

Title

Identification of electrostatic and van der Waals interaction forces between a micrometer-size sphere and a flat substrate.

Source

Physical Review B-Condensed Matter, vol.53, no.12, 15 March 1996, pp.8065-70. Publisher: APS through AIP, USA.

Abstract

The interaction force gradient between a micron-size polystyrene sphere and an atomically flat highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrate has been analyzed as a function of surface-to-surface separation distance z/sub o/ using an oscillating cantilever technique. The interaction force gradient was found to have two contributions. For z/sub 0/>or=30 nm, an electrostatic force due to charges trapped on the polystyrene sphere dominates. For z/sub 0/

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