Eur. Phys. J. E 6, 211-220 (2001)

Characteristic angles in the wetting of an angular region: Surface shape

Y.O. Popov and T.A. Witten

Department of Physics, University of Chicago, 5640 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637, USA

yopopov@midway.uchicago.edu

(Received 1 February 2001 and Received in final form 14 August 2001)

Abstract
The shape of a liquid surface bounded by an acute or obtuse planar angular sector is considered by using classical analysis methods. For acute angular sectors the two principal curvatures are of the order of the (fixed) mean curvature. But for obtuse sectors, the principal curvatures both diverge as the vertex is approached. The power law divergence becomes stronger with increasing opening angle. Possible implications of this contrasting behavior are suggested.

PACS
68.03.Cd - Surface tension and related phenomena.


© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2001