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Phys. Rev. E 75, 031114 (2007) [22 pages]

Structure of fluctuations near mean-field critical points and spinodals and its implication for physical processes

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W. Klein
Department of Physics and Center for Computational Science, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA

Harvey Gould
Department of Physics, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts 01610, USA

Natali Gulbahce
Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA

J. B. Rundle
Department of Physics and Center for Computational Science and Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA

K. Tiampo
Earth Science Department, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada

Received 3 July 2006; revised 9 January 2007; published 22 March 2007

We analyze the structure of fluctuations near critical points and spinodals in mean-field and near-mean-field systems. Unlike systems that are non-mean-field, for which a fluctuation can be represented by a single cluster in a properly chosen percolation model, a fluctuation in mean-field and near-mean-field systems consists of a large number of clusters, which we term fundamental clusters. The structure of the latter and the way that they form fluctuations has important physical consequences for phenomena as diverse as nucleation in supercooled liquids, spinodal decomposition and continuous ordering, and the statistical distribution of earthquakes. The effects due to the fundamental clusters implies that they are physical objects and not only mathematical constructs.

© 2007 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevE.75.031114
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevE.75.031114
PACS:
64.60.My, 82.60.Nh, 68.55.Ac, 05.70.Jk

*Formerly at Department of Physics, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts 01610, USA.

 
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