The proceedings from the October 2001 conference in San Francisco feature thirteen papers on topics like magnetic recording, air bearing models for sub-5 nm spacings, self-adjusting flying height sliders, head-disk interface issues, PFPE lubricant bonding, polydispersity effects in evaporation of perfluoropolyether thin films, ultrathin CNx overcoats, energetic carbon deposition process, the thermal asperity problem, tribology of high density tape storage systems, and shock test modeling. Author index only. c. Book News Inc.

Nanotribology: Critical Assessment and Research Needs is an excellent reference for both academic and industrial researchers working in the fields of nanotechnology, tribology, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, MEMS, NEMS, magnetic recording, and biomedical devices. It will also be of interest to those pursuing scanning probe microscopy, nanoimaging, mesomanufacturing, sensors, actuators, aerospace, defense (controllers, microsystems), and military systems. Nanotribology: Critical Assessment and Research Needs provides a critical assessment of the current state of the art of nanotribology within the context of MEMS, mesomanufacturing, nanotechnology and microsystems. It contains chapters written by the leading experts in these fields. It identifies gaps in current knowledge and barriers to applications, and recommends research areas that need to be addressed to enable the rapid development of technologies.

From the Introduction: Nanotechnology and its underpinning sciences are progressing with unprecedented rapidity. With technical advances in a variety of nanoscale fabrication and manipulation technologies, the whole topical area is maturing into a vibrant field that is generating new scientific research and a burgeoning range of commercial applications, with an annual market already at the trillion dollar threshold. The means of fabricating and controlling matter on the nanoscale afford striking and unprecedented opportunities to exploit a variety of exotic phenomena such as quantum, nanophotonic and nanoelectromechanical effects. Moreover, researchers are elucidating new perspectives on the electronic and optical properties of matter because of the way that nanoscale materials bridge the disparate theories describing molecules and bulk matter. Surface phenomena also gain a greatly increased significance; even the well-known link between chemical reactivity and surface-to-volume ratio becomes a major determinant of physical properties, when it operates over nanoscale dimensions. Against this background, this comprehensive work is designed to address the need for a dynamic, authoritative and readily accessible source of information, capturing the full breadth of the subject. Its six volumes, covering a broad spectrum of disciplines including material sciences, chemistry, physics and life sciences, have been written and edited by an outstanding team of international experts. Addressing an extensive, cross-disciplinary audience, each chapter aims to cover key developments in a scholarly, readable and critical style, providing an indispensible first point of entry to the literature for scientists and technologists from interdisciplinary fields. The work focuses on the major classes of nanomaterials in terms of their synthesis, structure and applications, reviewing nanomaterials and their respective technologies in well-structured and comprehensive articles with extensive cross-references. It has been a constant surprise and delight to have found, amongst the rapidly escalating number who work in nanoscience and technology, so many highly esteemed authors willing to contribute. Sharing our anticipation of a major addition to the literature, they have also captured the excitement of the field itself in each carefully crafted chapter. Along with our painstaking and meticulous volume editors, full credit for the success of this enterprise must go to these individuals, together with our thanks for (largely) adhering to the given deadlines. Lastly, we record our sincere thanks and appreciation for the skills and professionalism of the numerous Elsevier staff who have been involved in this project, notably Fiona Geraghty, Megan Palmer and Greg Harris, and especially Donna De Weerd-Wilson who has steered it through from its inception. We have greatly enjoyed working with them all, as we have with each other.

Friction-vibration interactions are common but important phenomena in science and engineering. Handbook of Friction-Vibration Interactions introduces the principles and provides the resources to understand and work with them. A unified theoretical framework includes some of the most important engineering applications. The first three chapters in the book introduce basic concepts and analytical methods of friction and vibration. The fourth chapter presents the general principles on friction-vibration interactions, and also touches on various engineering applications. In the fifth chapter the concepts and methods are extended to some of the most critical engineering applications in high-tech industry, presenting the friction-vibration interaction principle and applications in data storage systems. - Covers a key topic in science and engineering, with applications in daily life - Introduces the principles of friction-vibration interactions - Analyzes, presents experiments, and treats real systems ranging from nano to micro to macro scales

Comprehensive Nanoscience and Technology, Second Edition, Five Volume Set allows researchers to navigate a very diverse, interdisciplinary and rapidly-changing field with up-to-date, comprehensive and authoritative coverage of every aspect of modern nanoscience and nanotechnology. Presents new chapters on the latest developments in the field Covers topics not discussed to this degree of detail in other works, such as biological devices and applications of nanotechnology Compiled and written by top international authorities in the field