Computer simulation of vortex formation during domain growth

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We have studied the finite-temperature domain-growth kinetics in two-dimensional models with high ground-state degeneracy and non-conserved order parameter by means of Monte Carlo temperature-quenching techniques. The models are Q-state Potts models with anisotropic pair potential which at low temperatures are found to develop vortex structures during the non-equilibrium domain-growth process. The vortex formation is an entropy-driven effect in this model. We have identified vortex-antivortex pairs as a significant structural element of the temporal domain-boundary morphology and shown that the vortices and anti-vortices annihilate during the growth process without pinning the ordering process. The resulting growth law as derived from the excess domain-wall energy and the vortex density is found to be the Lifshitz-Allen-Cahn law with the classical exponent value, n = ½, independent of the ordering degeneracy Q.

Original languageEnglish
JournalPhysica Scripta
VolumeT33
Pages (from-to)180-184
Number of pages5
ISSN0031-8949
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1990

ID: 236893854