Pinning of a rough interface by an external potential

An analysis is given of the behavior of an interface between two phases in the presence of an external pinning potential in the solid-on-solid limit of the two-dimensional Ising model. It is found that the potential turns a rough interface into a smooth one, except in the case of a boundary potential, where a minimum potential strength is required. The connection with the roughening transition found by Abraham is discussed. The interface width is calculated as a function of the potential parameters in the limit of a weak pining potential.