Electric field singularity on the line of wetting of dielectric surface

Abstract

The pattern of electric field singularity on the line of wetting of dielectric by conducting liquid is considered. It is known that the modulus of electric field in this case tends to infinity while the distance from the line of wetting tends to zero, i.e., the electric field has a singularity on the line of wetting. In the case of nonzero wetting angle, this singularity is integrable, with the total volume density of electric energy remaining finite. It is demonstrated that, if the surface is wetted by dielectric liquid, a critical wetting angle exists defined by the permittivity ratio of contacting dielectrics. When the wetting angle becomes less than critical, the electric field singularity disappears.