Efficient calculation of phase coexistence and phase diagrams: application to a binary phase-field-crystal model

Holl, Max Philipp; Archer, A.J.; Thiele, Uwe;

Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed

Abstract

We show that one can employ well-established numerical continuation methods to efficiently calculate the phase diagram for thermodynamic systems described by a suitable free energy functional. In particular, this involves the determination of lines of phase coexistence related to first order phase transitions and the continuation of triple points. To illustrate the method we apply it to a binary phase-field-crystal model for the crystallisation of a mixture of two types of particles. The resulting phase diagram is determined for one- and two-dimensional domains. In the former case it is compared to the diagram obtained from a one-mode approximation. The various observed liquid and crystalline phases and their stable and metastable coexistence are discussed as well as the temperature-dependence of the phase diagrams. This includes the (dis)appearance of critical points and triple points. We also relate bifurcation diagrams for finite-size systems to the thermodynamics of phase transitions in the infinite-size limit.

Details about the publication

JournalJournal of Physics: Condensed Matter
Volume33
Issue11
StatusPublished
Release year2021
Language in which the publication is writtenEnglish
DOI10.1088/1361-648x/abce6e
Link to the full texthttps://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648x/abce6e
KeywordsPhysik weicher Materie; Musterbildung und Selbstorganisation; Bifurkationstheorie; Phasenfeldkristallmodell; Phasendiagramm; Numerische Kontinuierung;

Authors from the University of Münster

Holl, Max Philipp
Institute for Theoretical Physics
Thiele, Uwe
Professur für Theoretische Physik (Prof. Thiele)
Center for Nonlinear Science
Center for Multiscale Theory and Computation