We investigate a new type of surface instability of a thin elastic film subjected to surface interactions such as van der Waals and electrostatic forces from another solid surface in its vicinity. It is found that a sufficiently soft (shear modulus $<10\mathrm{MPa}$) and nearly incompressible film deforms to form an undulating pattern without any mass transport. A novel feature is that the characteristic length scale of the pattern is nearly independent of the nature and magnitude of the external force, but varies linearly with the film thickness. These results explain some recent experiments and are applicable to problems such as adhesion and friction at soft solid interfaces, peeling of adhesives, patterning of solid surfaces, etc.

• Received 7 August 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.119