We study the inertial dewetting of water films ($A$) (thickness $e$) deposited on highly hydrophobic liquid substrates ($B$). On these ideal surfaces, thin films can be made which dewet at large velocities obeying under those conditions the Culick law for the bursting of soap films. The rim collecting the water film can become coupled to the surface waves characterized by a surface tension ${\tilde{\gamma }}_B$ upstream of the rim (coated substrate) and $\gamma ={\gamma }_B$ downstream, where the water film has dried. Upon decreasing the thickness, we observe a sequence of two hydraulic shocks during the dewetting inducing gravity waves behind the rim, and capillary waves ahead.

• Received 27 October 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.156101