RESUMO
We present a class of statistical measures that can be used to quantify nonequilibrium surface growth. They are used to deduce information about spatiotemporal dynamics of model systems for spinodal decomposition and surface deposition. Pattern growth in the Cahn-Hilliard equation (used to model spinodal decomposition) are shown to exhibit three distinct stages. Two models of surface growth, namely, the continuous Kardar-Parisi-Zhang model and the discrete restricted-solid-on-solid model are shown to have different saturation exponents.
RESUMO
Two families of statistical measures are used for quantitative characterization of nonequilibrium patterns and their evolution. The first quantifies the disorder in labyrinthine patterns, and captures features like the domain size, defect density, variations in wave number, etc. The second class of characteristics can be used to quantify the disorder in more general nonequilibrium structures, including those observed during domain growth. The presence of distinct stages of relaxation in spatiotemporal dynamics under the Swift-Hohenberg equation is analyzed using both classes of measures.
