Pathway to surface-induced phase transition of a confined fluid

Abstract

We perform Glauber dynamics Monte Carlo simulations of a lattice gas confined between drying walls to model the dynamics that leads to the evaporation of water between extended hydrophobic surfaces. We find direct evidence that the long and short wavelength fluctuations are the important features involved in the evaporation process. These fluctuations correspond to capillary wave fluctuations in the emerging liquid-vapor interfaces and to the formation of vapor tubes that bridge across the interfaces.