Dynamic scaling in vacancy-mediated disordering

TL;DR

This paper investigates the disordering process in a binary alloy with vacancies, revealing dynamic scaling behavior in the late stages through simulations and theoretical analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a combined Monte Carlo and field theory approach to analyze vacancy-mediated disordering and identifies universal scaling exponents.

Findings

Late-stage disordering exhibits dynamic scaling.

Scaling functions and exponents are universal.

Early-stage disordering has subtle complexities.

Abstract

We consider the disordering dynamics of an interacting binary alloy with a small admixture of vacancies which mediate atom-atom exchanges. Starting from a perfectly phase-segregated state, the system is rapidly heated to a temperature in the disordered phase. A suitable disorder parameter, namely, the number of broken bonds, is monitored as a function of time. Using Monte Carlo simulations and a coarse-grained field theory, we show that the late stages of this process exhibit dynamic scaling, characterized by a set of scaling functions and exponents. We discuss the universality of these exponents and comment on some subtleties in the early stages of the disordering process.