Interfacial profiles between coexisting phases in thin films: Cahn Hilliard treatment versus capillary waves

Details Interfacial profiles between coexisting phases in thin films: Cahn Hilliard treatment versus capillary waves Interfacial profiles between coexisting phases in thin films: Cahn Hilliard treatment versus capillary waves

1998-10-06

arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/9810051v1

J. Stat. Phys. 95, 1045 (1999).

Physics

Condensed Matter

Statistical Mechanics

to appear in J. Stat. Phys

Scientific paper

We consider an interface between two demixed A and B phases, confined in a thin film between two antisymmetric walls, one of which prefers A and the other B. Above the wetting transition, the interface is stabilized in the center of the film. Based on a suitable extension of the Cahn-Hilliard gradient-square theory in combination with the capillary wave theory, we argue that the confinement influences the interfacial structure in two ways: It squeezes the intrinsic structure and cuts off the capillary wave spectrum. As a result, the interfacial width is proportional to the film thickness D in very thin films, and proportional to the square root of D in thicker films. These effects are then discussed in detail for the special case of an interface between demixed homopolymer phases. The width of the intrinsic profile is calculated analytically as a function of film thickness in the Cahn-Hilliard approximation (weak segregation limit) and in the Helfand theory (strong segregation limit), and numerically in the self-consistent field approximation. The results are confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations of a lattice model for a polymer mixture.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Interfacial profiles between coexisting phases in thin films: Cahn Hilliard treatment versus capillary waves does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Interfacial profiles between coexisting phases in thin films: Cahn Hilliard treatment versus capillary waves, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Interfacial profiles between coexisting phases in thin films: Cahn Hilliard treatment versus capillary waves will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-223029