Hydrodynamic interaction between a spherical particle and an elastic surface: a gentle probe for soft thin Films.

We study the hydrodynamic interaction between a sphere and an elastic surface at a nanoscale with a dynamic surface force apparatus. We show that the interplay between viscous forces and elastic deformations leads to very rich scaling properties of the force response, providing a unique signature of the surface elastic behavior. These properties are illustrated on three different examples: a thick elastomer, a thin elastomer film, and a layer of micrometric bubbles.

Fine calibration of the residual dissipation in a surface forces apparatus using a capacitive sensor.

The design of a dynamic surface force apparatus using a capacitive sensor has been useful in the past to study the nanorheological behavior of thin liquid films confined between a sphere and a plane. This allows a precise measurement of the hydrodynamical boundary condition of liquids down to some molecular sizes. However for thick liquid films, the viscous force is decreased and the dissipation due to the flow of air in the capacitive sensor becomes of the same order of magnitude than the force due to the liquid flow.