Examination of the Necessity of Complete Wetting near Critical Points in Systems with Long-Range Forces

Authors

M. P. Nightingale, University of Rhode IslandFollow
J. O. Indekeu

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

9-1-1985

Abstract

Cahn’s general argument for complete wetting in the vicinity of critical points is critically reviewed. Critical-point wetting does occur in systems with short-range (exponentially decaying) forces. Whenever short-range forces favor wetting, while at the same time there is a tendency towards drying due to weak long-range (algebraically decaying) forces, neither critical-point wetting nor drying takes place. In this case the thickness of the partial wetting layer diverges as the bulk correlation length upon approach of the critical point.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Nightingale, M. P., & Indekeu, J. O. (1985). Examination of the necessity of complete wetting near critical points in systems with long-range forces. Physical Review B, 32(5), 3364-3366. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.32.3364

Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.32.3364

Publisher Statement

©1985 The American Physical Society