Friction in the zero sliding velocity limit.

Using an adiabatic approximation method, which searches for Tomlinson model-like instabilities for a simple but still realistic model for two crystalline surfaces, with mobile molecules present at the interface, sliding relative to each other, we are able to account for the virtually universal occurrence of "dry friction" at zero temperature. A modified version of this method allows us to calculate the kinetic friction at nonzero temperature as well. We have also considered the static friction, and have demonstrated that the model is able to account for static friction being larger than kinetic friction.