Discontinuous Interface Depinning from a Rough Wall

Abstract

Depinning of an interface from a random self--affine substrate with roughness exponent $\zeta_S$ is studied in systems with short--range interactions. In 2$D$ transfer matrix results show that for $\zeta_S<1/2$ depinning falls in the universality class of the flat case. When $\zeta_S$ exceeds the roughness ($\zeta_0=1/2$) of the interface in the bulk, geometrical disorder becomes relevant and, moreover, depinning becomes \underline{discontinuous}. The same unexpected scenario, and a precise location of the associated tricritical point, are obtained for a simplified hierarchical model. It is inferred that, in 3$D$, with $\zeta_0=0$, depinning turns first--order already for $\zeta_S>0$. Thus critical wetting may be impossible to observe on rough substrates.