Files
Document type
ArticleVersion
Published versionPublication date
Publication license
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/149442
Dynamics of phase separation from holography
Journal Title
Director/Tutor
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Related resource
Abstract
We use holography to develop a physical picture of the real-time evolution of the spinodal instability of a four-dimensional, strongly-coupled gauge theory with a first-order, thermal phase transition. We numerically solve Einstein's equations to follow the evolution, in which we identify four generic stages: a first, linear stage in which the instability grows exponentially; a second, non-linear stage in which peaks and/or phase domains are formed; a third stage in which these structures merge; and a fourth stage in which the system finally relaxes to a static, phase-separated configuration. On the gravity side the latter is described by a static, stable, inhomogeneous horizon. We conjecture and provide evidence that all static, non-phase separated configurations in large enough boxes are dynamically unstable. We show that all four stages are well described by the constitutive relations of second-order hydrodynamics that include all second-order gradients that are purely spatial in the local rest frame. In contrast, a Müller-Israel-Stewart-type formulation of hydrodynamics fails to provide a good description for two reasons. First, it misses some large, purely-spatial gradient corrections. Second, several second-order transport coefficients in this formulation, including the relaxation times τπ and τΠ, diverge at the points where the speed of sound vanishes.
Subject
Subject (English)
Citation
Citation
ATTEMS, Maximilian, et al. Dynamics of phase separation from holography. Journal of High Energy Physics. 2020. Vol. 106. ISSN 1126-6708. [consulted: 16 of August of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/149442