Nonlinear growth of wetting layers

Abstract

The growth of wetting layers is studied as a function of time t in the framework of effective interface models. The thickness of such layers is found to grow as t^1/4 and t^1/5 for three-dimensional systems which are governed by non-retarded and retarded van der Waals forces. In the fluctuation regimes, a universal growth law t^psi with psi =(3-d)/4 is found where d is the bulk dimensionality. It is also shown that the dynamic critical exponent z is super-universal: z=2 holds both in the mean field and in the fluctuation regimes.