Reply to Comment on "Theory of Spinodal Decomposition"

TL;DR

This paper defends a theory of order parameter evolution in systems with different conservation laws against a comment, clarifying the role of the continuity equation and OP flux in the theoretical framework.

Contribution

The author clarifies that their theory applies to systems with no, global, or local conservation laws, and explains how OP flux is determined within this framework.

Findings

Theory describes OP evolution for all conservation types.

Continuity equation is a differential form of global conservation.

OP flux can be derived from OP evolution and continuity equations.

Abstract

Rutenberg [cond-mat/9411016] claimed erroneously that I incorrectly apply only global conservation constraint to systems with local conservation embodied by continuity equation [PRL vol.72, p.1850 (1994)]. I reply that my theory describes the order parameter (OP) evolution of all three types of systems: without conservation law, with global one and with local one. I explain that continuity equation is a differential form of global conservation law, taking into account the absence of OP production. It is a supplementary equation, but it contains an unknown variable - OP flux. In my theory OP flux can be always found from OP evolution equation and continuity one.