EFFECT OF THERMAL FLUCTUATIONS ON THE STABILITY OF DRAINING THIN-FILMS

On the basis of linear fluctuating hydrodynamics, an equation describing the thermal fluctuations of the thickness of a thin draining liquid film with tangentially immobile surfaces is obtained. Expressions for the spectral density of the spatial autocorrelation function of the surface wave amplitudes and the corresponding dispersion, as well as for the correlation area, are derived. The critical thickness for the film rupture is calculated on the basis of a statistical model of hole formation. It is demonstrated that the coupling between film drainage and thermal fluctuations has a stabilizing effect, while the finite correlation area (which implies the existence of a number of uncorrelated subdomains) has a destabilizing one.