Weierstrass' variational theory for analysing meniscus stability in ribbon growth processes

TL;DR

This paper develops a variational approach using Weierstrass' method to analyze and classify the stability of static meniscus shapes in ribbon growth, revealing multiple solutions and bifurcations.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical framework for static meniscus shapes in ribbon growth, accounting for multivalued solutions and stability via second order variations.

Findings

Multiple static menisci can satisfy boundary conditions.

Stable and unstable solutions exhibit saddle node bifurcations.

Arc length provides a complete solution space for meniscus shapes.

Abstract

We use the method of free energy minimization based on the first law of thermodynamics to derive static meniscus shapes for crystal ribbon growth systems. To account for the possibility of multivalued curves as solutions to the minimization problem, we choose a parametric representation of the meniscus geometry. Using Weierstrass' form of the Euler-Lagrange equation we derive analytical solutions that provide explicit knowledge on the behaviour of the meniscus shapes. Young's contact angle and Gibbs pinning conditions are also analyzed and are shown to be a consequence of the energy minimization problem with variable end-points. For a given ribbon growth configuration, we find that there can exist multiple static menisci that satisfy the boundary conditions. The stability of these solutions is analyzed using second order variations and are found to exhibit saddle node bifurcations. We show that the arc length is a natural representation of a meniscus geometry and provides the complete solution space, not accessible through the classical variational formulation. We provide a range of operating conditions for hydro-statically feasible menisci and illustrate the transition from a stable to spill-over configuration using a simple proof of concept experiment.