Super lattice formation of an array of volatile wetting droplets

Abstract

For an ordered array of critical volatile wetting droplets the formation of a super lattice by an Ostwald-ripening like competition process is considered. The underlying diffusion problem is treated within a quasistatic approximation and to first order in the inverse droplets distance. The approach is rather general but a square lattice and a triangular lattice are studied explicitly. Dispersion relations for the super-lattice growth of these arrays are calculated.