Finite-size effects on critical wetting in 1+1 dimensions

Simulations of critical or near-critical wetting in 2+1 dimensions exhibit strong finite-size effects. Both the size the area of the substrate from which the interface unbinds and the presence of a second substrate to contain the unbound interface, influence the apparent location and order of the transition. These two influences are studied analytically in a continuum version of the SOS model in 1+1 dimensions. Finite-size scaling functions qualitatively show the behavior observed in the simulations and implications for the latter are discussed.