Electrostatic Fluctuations in Soap Films

Abstract

A field theory to describe electrostatic interactions in soap films, described by electric multi-layers with a generalized thermodynamic surface-charging mechanism, is studied. In the limit where the electrostatic interactions are weak this theory is exactly soluble. The theory incorporates in a consistent way, the surface-charging mechanism and the fluctuations in the electrostatic field which correspond to the zero frequency component of the van der Waals force. It is shown that these terms lead to a Casimir like attraction which can be sufficiently large to explain the transition between the Common Black Film to a Newton Black Film.