Eur. Phys. J. E 3, 3-6 (2000)
DOI: 10.1007/PL00013676

Super lattice formation of an array of volatile wetting droplets

R. Burghaus

Institut für Theoretische Physik IV, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

burghaus@thphy.uni-duesseldorf.de

(Received 29 November 1999 and Received in final form 15 February 2000)

Abstract
For an ordered array of critical volatile wetting droplets the formation of a super lattice by an Ostwald-ripening-like competition process is considered. The underlying diffusion problem is treated within a quasistatic approximation and to first order in the inverse droplets distance. The approach is rather general but a square lattice and a triangular lattice are studied explicitly. Dispersion relations for the super lattice growth of these arrays are calculated.

PACS
47.54.+r - Pattern selection; pattern formation.
47.55.Dz - Drops and bubbles.
68.45.Gd - Wetting.

© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2000