Numerical study of the late stages of spinodal decomposition

Abstract

A numerical simulation of a two-dimensional system with a continuous order parameter (model B) is used to study phase separation for a critical quench. Domain growth and scaling are investigated through the pair correlation function. At late stages, the characteristic domain size grows as R(t)∼$t^{1/3}$. It is only in this time regime that scaling of the correlation function is established. The scaling function and the asymptotic growth law are found to be independent of the strength of thermal fluctuations. Details of the finite-difference scheme used to simulate the dynamics are discussed.