Boundary integral solution of potential problems arising in the modelling of electrified oil films (Q907325)

The author studies a 2D model of electrified oil film \(\Omega_1\) lying over a periodic half-space. The problem reduces to a transmission problem for the Laplace equation in two regions: the film domain \[ \Omega_1=\{(x,y):0<y<h(x)\}, \] and the exterior region \[ \Omega_2=\{(x,y):y>h(x)\}, \] where the periodic function \(h\) is the (given) thickness of the film. Periodic Dirichlet boundary conditions are assumed on the substrat \(\{y=0\}\) and transmissions conditions are assumed through the film boundary \(\Gamma=\{(x,y):y=h(x)\}\). Finally a decay condition is assumed when \(y\to +\infty\). The existence of a unique solution is proved by using a boundary integral method, introducing single and double layer potentials on \(\Gamma\). Moreover a discretization method is introduced and numerical experiments are provided.