Decay of metastable and unstable states: Mechanisms, concepts and open problems

K. Binder

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 1986, vol. 140, issue 1, 35-43

Abstract: The decay of metastable states is initiated by a nucleation process in which a free energy barrier is overcome, while in unstable states fluctuations can grow unaffected by such a barrier. The first part of this review considers the significance of the spinodal line separating the metastable and unstable regime. A Ginzburg criterion for the validity of the spinodal line, as well as for the mean-field theory of nucleation and the linear theory of spinodal decomposition will be discussed. Evidence from simulations and experiments will be mentioned.

Date: 1986
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:140:y:1986:i:1:p:35-43

DOI: 10.1016/0378-4371(86)90202-5

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