Statistical field theory for liquid vapor interface

A statistical field theory for an inhomogeneous liquid, a planar liquid/vapor interface, is devised from first principles. The grand canonical partition function is represented via a Hubbard-Stratonovitch tranformation leading, close to the critical point, to the usual $ϕ^4$ scalar field theory which is then rigorously considered at the one-loop level. When further simplified it yields the well-known capillary wave theory without any ad hoc phenomenological parameter. Internal coherence of the one-loop approximation is discussed and good overall qualitative agreement with recent numerical simulations is stressed.

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