paper

Stochastic theory of non-equilibrium wetting

arXiv:cond-mat/0103528 · doi:10.1209/epl/i2002-00582-9

Abstract

We study a Langevin equation describing non-equilibrium depinning and wetting transitions. Attention is focused on short-ranged attractive substrate-interface potentials. We confirm the existence of first order depinning transitions, in the temperature-chemical potential diagram, and a tricritical point beyond which the transition becomes a non-equilibrium complete wetting transition. The coexistence of pinned and depinned interfaces occurs over a finite area, in line with other non-equilibrium systems that exhibit first order transitions. In addition, we find two types of phase coexistence, one of which is characterized by spatio-temporal intermittency (STI). A finite size analysis of the depinning time is used to characterize the different coexisting regimes. Finally, a stationary distribution of characteristic triangles or facets was shown to be responsible for the structure of the STI phase.

To appear in Europhys. Lett. // 3 figures

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