Breakdown of scale-invariance in the coarsening of phase-separating binary fluids

TL;DR

This paper uses lattice Boltzmann simulations to demonstrate that the coarsening process in phase-separating binary fluids lacks scale invariance and is influenced by the interplay of diffusive and hydrodynamic time scales.

Contribution

It provides new evidence that coarsening in binary fluids is not scale-invariant and highlights the importance of time scale relations in phase separation pathways.

Findings

Coarsening is not a scale-invariant process.

Phase separation pathways depend on diffusive and hydrodynamic time scales.

Simulation results challenge previous assumptions of scale invariance.

Abstract

We present evidence, based on lattice Boltzmann simulations, to show that the coarsening of the domains in phase separating binary fluids is not a scale-invariant process. Moreover we emphasise that the pathway by which phase separation occurs depends strongly on the relation between diffusive and hydrodynamic time scales.