English

Thin Film Rupture from the Atomic Scale

Fluid Dynamics 2023-04-19 v2

Abstract

The retraction of thin films, as described by the Taylor-Culick (TC) theory, is subject to widespread debate, particularly for films at the nanoscale. We use non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to explore the validity of the assumptions used in continuum models, by tracking the evolution of holes in a film. By deriving a new mathematical form for the surface shape and considering a locally varying surface tension at the front of the retracting film, we reconcile the original theory with our simulation data to recover a corrected TC speed valid at the nanoscale.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2211.10358,
  title  = {Thin Film Rupture from the Atomic Scale},
  author = {Muhammad Rizwanur Rahman and Li Shen and James P. Ewen and Benjamin Collard and D. M. Heyes and Daniele Dini and E. R. Smith},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2211.10358},
  year   = {2023}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-28T06:13:50.867Z