Instability and Reconstruction of Thin Liquid Layer Under Inversed Gravitation Conditions

Abstract

Evolution of shape of thin liquid layer covering a solid substrate under conditions of inversed gravitation (the van der Waals's and gravitation forces have opposite directions) with increasing the layer thickness is studied numerically. It is shown that at thickness higher than the critical value ∼10 ⁻⁴ cm flat surface of neutral liquid layer becomes unstable, and the stationary solitary wave of surface deformation is formed, i.e. the reconstruction transition takes place at the surface. With increasing the layer thickness amplitude of the wave grows gradually, and at amplitudes much higher than the critical thickness shape of the wave is close to shape of single macroscopic droplet. Influence of external electric field on charged droplet's shape is evaluated, also. The obtained theoretical dependencies are used for treatment of results of the experiments with charged liquid hydrogen droplets.