title: Wetting transition in the two-dimensional Blume-Capel model: a Monte Carlo study.
abstract: The wetting transition of the Blume-Capel model is studied by a finite-size scaling analysis of L×M lattices where competing boundary fields ±H_{1} act on the first or last row of the L rows in the strip, respectively. We show that using the appropriate anisotropic version of finite-size scaling, critical wetting in d=2 is equivalent to a "bulk" critical phenomenon with exponents α=-1, β=0, and γ=3. These concepts are also verified for the Ising model. For the Blume-Capel model, it is found that the field strength H_{1c}(T) where critical wetting occurs goes to zero when the bulk second-order transition is approached, while H_{1c}(T) stays nonzero in the region where in the bulk a first-order transition from the ordered phase, with nonzero spontaneous magnetization, to the disordered phase occurs. Interfaces between coexisting phases then show interfacial enrichment of a layer of the disordered phase which exhibits in the second-order case a finite thickness only. A tentative discussion of the scaling behavior of the wetting phase diagram near the tricritical point is also given.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Física de Líquidos y Sistemas Biológicos (IFLYSIB), CCT-CONICET La Plata, UNLP, Calle 59 Nro. 789, (1900) La Plata, Argentina. ealbano@iflysib.unlp.edu.ar
authors.forename: Ezequiel V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Binder
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D044367:Phase Transition; D017155:Wettability
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial