Wetting, algebraic curves and conformal invariance
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Accepted version
Author(s)
Parry, Andrew
Rascon, Carlos
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Recent studies of wetting in a two-component square-gradient model of interfaces in a fluid mixture, showing three-phase bulk coexistence, have revealed some highly surprising features. Numerical results show that the density profile paths, which form a tricuspid shape in the density plane, have curious geometric properties, while conjectures for the analytical form of the surface tensions imply that nonwetting may persist up to the critical end points, contrary to the usual expectation of critical point wetting. Here, we solve the model exactly and show that the profile paths are conformally invariant quartic algebraic curves that change genus at the wetting transition. Being harmonic, the profile paths can be represented by an analytic function in the complex plane which then conformally maps the paths onto straight lines. Using this, we derive the conjectured form of the surface tensions and explain the geometrical properties of the tricuspid and its relation to the Neumann triangle for the contact angles. The exact solution confirms that critical point wetting is absent in this square-gradient model.
Date Issued
2024-12-06
Date Acceptance
2024-11-07
Citation
Physical Review Letters, 2024, 133 (23)
ISSN
0031-9007
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
133
Issue
23
Copyright Statement
© 2024 American Physical Society
. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
Identifier
https://journals.aps.org/prl/accepted/ee077Y40Hb41a49a991600361e2a8500a63b7b4cd
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
238001
Date Publish Online
2024-12-04