We address weak-coupling frictional sliding with phononic dissipation by means of analytic many-body techniques. Our model consists of a particle (the “slider”) moving through a two- or three-dimensional crystal and interacting weakly with its atoms, and therefore, exciting phonons. By means of linear response theory, we obtain explicit expressions for the friction force slowing down the slider as a function of its speed, and compare them to the friction obtained by simulations, demonstrating a remarkable accord.

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• Friction
• Insulators
• Linear response theory
• Molecular dynamics