Wetting transitions of liquid hydrogen films

Calculations are presented in the wetting properties of liquid hydrogen films on various substrates. The well depth D for the adsorption potential is even smaller for alkali metal substrates than for noble gas surfaces. A simple model calculation leads to the prediction that wetting transitions should then occur at a temperature Tw about 20 K. Quartz microbalance data obtained for H₂ on Rb are consistent with this result. Specifically, Tw is found to be 17.89±{}0.04 K. The wetting phase diagram is found to be in good agreement with thermodynamic expectations.