Study of phase separation in a first-order phase transition: Nucleation versus spinodal decomposition
Studies of dynamical properties of first-order phase transition for a scalar field theory indicate that the phase conversion mechanism itself depends on the strength of the first-order transition: if the transition is strongly (weakly) first-order, bubble nucleation (spinodal decomposition) are favored conversion mechanisms, respectively. These distinct scenarios are of phenomenological impact. In order to see which phase conversion mechanism takes place depending on the strength of transition, we have simulated the q = 5 state Potts model in two dimensions with an external magnetic field. The transition gets weakened in its first-order as the external field increases. Our results indicate that the phase conversion mechanism changes from nucleation to spinodal decomposition.
phase separation spinodal decomposition bubble nucleation potts model cluster algorithm deconfinement transition