Divergent stiffness of one-dimensional growing interfaces

TL;DR

This paper reveals that the effective surface tension, or stiffness, of a one-dimensional growing interface with thermal noise diverges as system size increases, unlike in equilibrium interfaces, due to anomalous dynamical fluctuations.

Contribution

It demonstrates the divergent behavior of interface stiffness in growing systems and links it to underlying dynamical fluctuation mechanisms.

Findings

Stiffness diverges with system size in growing interfaces.

Divergence is linked to anomalous dynamical fluctuations.

Behavior differs from equilibrium interface properties.

Abstract

When a spatially localized stress is applied to a growing one-dimensional interface, the interface deforms. This deformation is described by the effective surface tension representing the stiffness of the interface. We present that the stiffness exhibits divergent behavior in the large system size limit for a growing interface with thermal noise, which has never been observed for equilibrium interfaces. Furthermore, by connecting the effective surface tension with a space-time correlation function, we elucidate the mechanism that anomalous dynamical fluctuations lead to divergent stiffness.