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  • Letter
  • Open Access

Rogue nanowaves: A route to film rupture

James E. Sprittles1,*, Jingbang Liu1,†, Duncan A. Lockerby2,‡, and Tobias Grafke1,§

  • 1Mathematics Institute, Zeeman Building, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
  • 2School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom

  • *J.E.Sprittles@Warwick.ac.uk
  • †Jingbang.Liu@Warwick.ac.uk
  • ‡Duncan.Lockerby@warwick.ac.uk
  • §T.Grafke@Warwick.ac.uk
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 8, L092001 – Published 11 September, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.8.L092001

Abstract

Sufficiently thin liquid films on solid surfaces are often unstable to intermolecular forces and it is commonly assumed that their rupture occurs via a linear instability mechanism in the so-called spinodal regime. Here, a theoretical framework is created for the experimentally observed thermal regime, in which fluctuation-induced nanowaves rupture linearly stable films. Molecular simulations in a quasi-2D geometry identify these regimes and are accurately reproduced by stochastic simulations based on fluctuating hydrodynamics. Rare-event theory is then applied to, and developed for, this field to provide exceptional computational efficiency and accuracy that allows us to extend calculations deep into the thermal regime. Analysis of the rare-event theory reveals a picture of how and when “rogue nanowaves” are able to provide a route to film rupture. Finally, future applications of the new theoretical framework and experimental verification is discussed.

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Phys. Rev. Fluids 8, L092001– Published 11 September, 2023
  • Received 28 November 2022
  • Accepted 7 August 2023
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