Spinodal decomposition in a lattice-gas automaton

Daniel H. Rothman , Stéphane Zaleski

We analyze a lattice-gas model of spinodal decomposition recently introduced by Rothman and Keller. This immiscible lattice gas (ILG) is of special interest because it not only conserves momentum and particle number, but is also capable of hydrodynamic simulations of interfaces. Here we perform a jointly theoretical and empirical study of the statistical behavior of the ILG. We first obtain a theoretical prediction of the diffusion coefficient by solving a discrete Boltzmann equation. We then confirm, by numerical simulations of diffusion and domain growth kinetics, that the spinodal curve of the ILG is approximately given by the line in the space of density and concentration where the theoretical diffusion coefficient vanishes. The ILG is also an interesting example of a system with irreversible microdynamics.

Mots clés: Boltzmann equation; diffusion; lattice theory and statistics; spinodal decomposition

Domaines: Articles anciens

Daniel H. Rothman, Stéphane Zaleski. Spinodal decomposition in a lattice-gas automaton. Journal de Physique, 1989, 50 (16), pp.2161-2174. ⟨10.1051/jphys:0198900500160216100⟩. ⟨jpa-00211052⟩