The pinning effect of dilute defects

Abstract: We consider the Bernoulli free boundary problem with ``defects", inhomogeneities in the coefficients of compact support. When the defects are small and arrayed periodically there exist plane-like solutions with a range of large-scale slopes slightly different from the background field value. This is known as pinning. By studying the capacity-like pinning effect of a single defect in the Bernoulli free boundary problem, we can compute the asymptotic expansion of the interval of pinned slopes as the defect size goes to zero for lattice aligned normal directions. Our work is motivated by the issue of contact angle hysteresis in capillary contact lines.