Wetting under non-equilibrium conditions

TL;DR

This paper analyzes a non-equilibrium wetting model in 1+1 dimensions, using mean field approximation to explore its phase diagram and predict behaviors in higher dimensions, revealing an extra transition line not present in lower dimensions.

Contribution

It introduces a mean field approach to non-equilibrium wetting, identifying a new transition line and discussing implications for higher-dimensional systems.

Findings

Mean field reproduces main phase diagram features.

Discovery of an extra transition line in mean field.

Implications for wetting behavior in higher dimensions.

Abstract

We report a detailed account of the phase diagram of a recently introduced model for non-equilibrium wetting in 1+1 dimensions [Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 2710 (1997)]. A mean field approximation is shown to reproduce the main features of the phase diagram, while providing indications for the behaviour of the wetting transition in higher dimensions. The mean field phase diagram is found to exhibit an extra transition line which does not exist in 1+1 dimensions. The line separates a phase in which the interface height distribution decays exponentially at large heights, from a superexponentially decaying phase. Implications to wetting in dimensions higher than 1+1 are discussed.