Nanoscale Friction Research:
Micromachines and Beyond

Cullen O'Neill '09
Physics Major
St. Olaf College

In this talk I will describe my experience of working on the improvement of Brian Borovsky’s nanoscale friction research equipment.  This past summer was a transition year for Brian’s research, in which I was given the opportunity to prepare his equipment for future work ahead.  This entailed acquiring data that revealed the stability and resolution of the instrument, as well as studying the extent to which the contact size can be reduced by using smaller probes and decreasing the applied load.  Our ultimate goal is to determine the ideal molecular structure of an ultrathin film for effective lubrication of high-speed microscopic contacts.  If this goal is achieved, our work will aid in the development of a new generation of microscopic machines that may improve everything from communications to medical diagnosis.  Our connections with research groups at Luther College and Auburn University will enable us to work cohesively towards this common goal, and I feel very privileged to be a part of this new research focus this coming summer.