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Stokes theory of thin-film rupture

The structure of the flow induced by the van der Waals destabilization of a non-wetting liquid film placed on a solid substrate is unraveled by means of theory and numerical simulations of the Stokes equations. Our analysis reveals that lubrication theory, which yields $h_{\text{min}} \propto τ^{1/5}$ where $h_{\text{min}}$ is the minimum film thickness and $τ$ is the time until breakup, cannot be used to describe the local flow close to rupture. Instead, the slender lubrication solution is shown to experience a crossover to a universal self-similar solution of the Stokes equations that yields $h_{\text{min}} \propto τ^{1/3}$, with an opening angle of $37^{\circ}$ off the solid.