Incorporating memory effects in phase separation processes

• Autor(a) principal: Koide, T.
• Data de Publicação: 2006
• Outros Autores: Krein, G., Ramos, R. O.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2006.03.035; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/23823
• topic: non-equilibrium field dynamics; memory effects; relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We consider the modification of the Cahn-Hilliard equation when a time delay process through a memory function is taken into account. We then study the process of spinodal decomposition in fast phase transitions associated with a conserved order parameter. Finite-time memory effects are seen to affect the dynamics of phase transition at short times and have the effect of delaying, in a significant way, the process of rapid growth of the order parameter that follows a quench into the spinodal region. These effects are important in several systems characterized by fast processes, like non-equilibrium dynamics in the early universe and in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.