Supercritically superlubric
Characteristic thermal energy kT exceeding the remnant energy waviness of the energy potential along the sliding direction(s).
Not truly zero friction. => Actually zero static(!) friction after all.
The reader might have encountered statements like:
"Superlubricity is not like superconductivity as there is no sudden qualitatye jump to unmeasurably small friction"
That is actually only true …
- for the broad concept of suprlubricity.
- for pretty much all what is today (2026) expermentally acessible.
The qualitative change
The "supercritical" in the title refers to characteristic thermal energy kT exceeding lsiding ebnergy potential waviness.
There is a qualitative change happening
when the thermal enegy kT suddenly exceeds the remnant energy waviness of the surface contact sliding potential.
Causing static friction to go to literally zero or rather making it stop to make sense.
Granted while a qualitatibve change not a very sharp and sudden change.
Even if there is no force present at all the sliding interface diffuses around.
So every epsilon of force (no matter how small) will eventualy lead to a motion in this driving direction.
The hallmark of zero static friction.
Possible criticism of the concept
One could argue that diffusion happens at low temperatures and high energy barriers too just exponentially slower.
So in that sense static friction is always zero. That's a bit absurd though. Max fore threshold?
One could look if there is an acceleration happening but this goes quickly into dynamic fricion instead.
Enginering / encountering supercritical superlubricity
Supercriticality of superlubricity (as defined here) can be ebbginnered or happen by …
- reduction of waviness from more incommensural interface (rotations, other sirface pairings)
- reduction of waviness from cange of uinterface distance and/or pressure
- raising of temperatue so log the matrials and surfacs still tolerate it
Overpowered remnant static friction for the possibly subcritical superlubrication cases
A more interesting and practically relevant question is usually
for subcritical superlubric cases or even non subperllubric cases
if or if not the vdW suck-in forces do overpower
the remnant sliding energy potential waviness.