Coarsening dynamics of phase-separating systems

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Materials Science
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Rapid cooling of binary liquids from a homogeneous phase leads to the formation and growth (coarsening) of domains of two equilibrium phases.
• In the absence of external drives, systems often exhibit dynamical-scaling, where domain morphology is statistically self-similar over time, characterized by a growing length-scale.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the scaling phenomenology of domain coarsening in binary liquid systems.
• To discuss the time-dependence of the coarsening scale across various physical systems and scaling regimes.
• To address the influence of external drives, specifically shear flow, on domain coarsening dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on dynamical-scaling and coarsening phenomena.
• Analysis of theoretical frameworks describing domain growth under different conditions.
• Discussion of experimental observations and recent developments in the field.

Main Results:

• Under no external drive, domain coarsening follows a dynamical-scaling regime with a statistically self-similar morphology.
• The coarsening scale grows with time, a behavior observed in various physical systems.
• External drives, particularly shear flow, can significantly alter the coarsening process, with ongoing research into their precise effects.

Conclusions:

• Domain coarsening in binary liquids is a fundamental process governed by scaling laws in the absence of external forces.
• Shear flow introduces complexities, potentially altering the late-time coarsening behavior.
• Further investigation is needed to understand if shear flow ultimately arrests or indefinitely continues the coarsening process.