title: Critical effects at 3D wedge wetting
abstract: We show that continuous filling transitions are possible in 3D wedge geometries made from substrates exhibiting first-order wetting transitions, and develop a fluctuation theory yielding a complete classification of the critical behavior. Our fluctuation theory is based on the derivation of a Ginzburg criterion for filling and also on an exact transfer-matrix analysis of a novel effective Hamiltonian that we propose as a model for wedge fluctuation effects. The influence of interfacial fluctuations is very strong and, in particular, leads to a remarkable universal divergence of the interfacial roughness xi( perpendicular) approximately (T(F)-T)(-1/4) on approaching the filling temperature T(F), valid for all possible types of intermolecular forces.
authors.affiliation: Mathematics Department, Imperial College, 180 Queen's Gate, London SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom.
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rascon
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wood