Separating different contributions to the shear force in near‐field microscopy

The shear force between a gold and a graphite sample and an approaching near‐field optical probe using tuning fork detection is studied in detail. The adiabatic and dissipative contributions are clearly distinguished by monitoring the amplitude as well as the phase of the tip vibration when approaching the surfaces. Their relative strengths vary differently but characteristically with the distance. The interaction starts in case of graphite at a much larger distance. The adiabatic contribution is larger in the case of gold, whereas graphite shows mostly dissipative interaction. Measurements at various temperatures are performed using a gold sample, showing a dependence of the shear force on the temperature.