Cosmology in a Test Tube: Theory of Domain Walls Formation in Binary Fluids

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates the formation of topological defects, specifically domain walls, in binary fluids during phase transitions, revealing how defect density scales with quench rate and transition velocity.

Contribution

It is the first theoretical study of topological defect formation in a system with a conserved order parameter like binary fluids.

Findings

Kink density scales as the sixth root of quench rate for equal concentrations.

Kink density scales as the square root of quench rate for unequal concentrations.

In slow inhomogeneous transitions, defect density is linearly proportional to the velocity of the temperature front.

Abstract

Formation of domain walls during a rapid phase transition in a quasi one dimensional Cahn-Hiliard equation describing binary fluids in a thin tube is studied. Density of kinks scales like a sixth root of quench rate for equal concentrations and like a square root of quench rate for unequal concentrations of fluids. For a slow inhomogeneous transition the density is linear in velocity of temperature front. This paper is first theoretical study of topological defects formation in a system with conserved order parameter.