Theory of spinodal decomposition

Abstract
The general evolution equation describing spinodal decomposition in systems with conserved or nonconserved order parameter is developed. It is shown that if in the system thermodynamic potential expression the coefficients at order parameter square and at order parameter gradient square can change sign near the spinodal point, some different decomposition scenarios are possible, which result in system transformation from disordered to ordered, modulated, patterned, or ordered-patterned states.