Spinodal decomposition to a lamellar phase: effects of hydrodynamic flow

TL;DR

This paper investigates how hydrodynamic flow influences the domain growth and defect dynamics during the transition from a disordered fluid to a lamellar phase, highlighting the role of flow in achieving equilibrium structures.

Contribution

It demonstrates the effects of hydrodynamic modes and shear on domain growth, showing how they help reach equilibrium lamellar configurations and reduce frustration.

Findings

Hydrodynamic modes accelerate domain growth and ordering.

Shear flow alleviates frustration and promotes equilibrium lamellae.

Growth transitions from logarithmic to faster dynamics with flow.

Abstract

Results are presented for the kinetics of domain growth of a two-dimensional fluid quenched from a disordered to a lamellar phase. At early times when a Lifshitz-Slyozov mechanism is operative the growth process proceeds logarithmically in time to a frozen state with locked-in defects. However when hydrodynamic modes become important, or the fluid is subjected to shear, the frustration of the system is alleviated and the size and orientation of the lamellae attain their equilibrium values.