Premelting fluctuations

TL;DR

This paper introduces a Landau mean field theory-based model for premelting fluctuations, capturing the dynamics of phase transition fluctuations and matching experimental spectra through stochastic differential equations.

Contribution

It develops a novel analytical and numerical model of premelting fluctuations using a two-scale approach and stochastic dynamics, linking microscopic thermal noise to observable spectra.

Findings

Model reproduces experimental fluctuation spectra

Identifies origin of low-frequency fluctuations as bistable switching

Describes chaotic small fluctuations and rare large transitions

Abstract

A model of the premelting fluctuations is proposed, based on the Landau mean field theory applied to a first-order phase transition. Using the thermodynamic potential, the nonlinear Langevin equation for the order parameter is formulated, which describes the dynamics of the phase transition considering microscopic thermal fluctuations. The origin of the low-frequency fluctuations, associated with a switching in a bistable system under the influence of a thermal noise, is shown. Analytical two-scale model of the premelting fluctuations is developed, with characteristic frequent small-amplitude fluctuations of chaotic motion in the vicinity of potential minima and rarer large fluctuations due to solid-liquid transitions. Based on the numerical simulation of the solutions to the stochastic differential equation, both the dynamics of the order parameter fluctuations and their spectrum are obtained. The model qualitatively reproduces experimental spectrum of isothermal fluctuations.