Static friction scaling of physisorbed islands: the key is in the edge
  The static friction preventing the free sliding of nanosized rare gas solid islands physisorbed on incommensurate crystalline surfaces is not completely understood. Simulations modeled on Kr/Pb(111) highlights the importance and the scaling behavior of the island's edge contribution to static friction. 
Nicola Varini, Andrea Vanossi, Roberto Guerra, Davide Mandelli,   Rosario Capozza, Erio Tosatti
cond-mat.mes-hall cond-mat.soft