On the thinning of films (I)

We investigate, from a mathematical perspective, the problem of a layer of fluid attracted to a horizontal plate when the layer is in equilibrium with a bulk reservoir. It is assumed that as the temperature varies, the bulk undergoes a continuous phase transition. On the basis of free energetics, this initially causes thinning of the layer but, at lower temperatures, the layer recovers and rebuilds. We provide a mathematical framework with which to investigate these problems. As an approximation, we model the layered system by a mean-field Ising magnet. The layered system is first studied in isolation (fixed thickness) and then as a system in contact with the bulk (variable thickness) with general results established. Finally, we investigate the limit of large thickness. Here, a well defined continuum theory emerges which provides an approximation to the discrete systems. In the context of the limiting theory, it is established that discontinuities in the layer thickness (as a function of temperature) or the derivative thereof are inevitable. By comparison with actual data from Garcia and Chan (1998) [1] and Ganshin et al. (2006) [2] the discontinuities may indeed be present but they are not quite in the form predicted by the theory. Finally-still in the context of the limiting theory-it is shown that at low temperatures, the layer may be lost altogether; the nature of the critical binding force is elucidated.     

Extensions of Asymptotic Fields Via Meromorphic Functions

An asymptotic field is a special type of Hardy field in which,modulo an oracle for constants, one can determine asymptoticbehaviour of elements. In a previous paper, it was shown inparticular that limits of real Liouvillian functions can therebybe computed. Let denote an asymptotic field and let f . Weprove here that if G is meromorphic at the limit of f (whichmay be infinite) and satisfies an algebraic differential equationover R(x), then (G o f) is an asymptotic field. Hence it ispossible (modulo an oracle for constants) to compute asymptoticforms for elements of (G o f). An example is given to show thatthe result may fail if G has an essential singularity at limf.     

Inverses of Hardy L-Functions

Hardy conjectured that there exists an L-function whose inverseis not asymptotic to any L-function. We show that this is trueof the L-function log(logx).log(log(logx)).