Thermal conductivity in dynamics of first-order phase transitions

• DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2010.07.006
• Publication Date: 2010-07-17T08:49:54Z
• Authors: V.V. Skokov; D.N. Voskresensky
• Keywords: Dynamics

Effects of thermal conductivity on the dynamics of first-order phase transitions are studied. Important consequences of a difference of the isothermal and adiabatic spinodal regions are discussed. We demonstrate that in hydrodynamical calculations at non-zero thermal conductivity, $��\neq 0$, onset of the spinodal instability occurs, when the system trajectory crosses the isothermal spinodal line. Only for $��= 0$ it occurs at a cross of the adiabatic spinodal line. Therefore ideal hydrodynamics is not suited for an appropriate description of first-order phase transitions.<br/>21 pages, 2 figures; submitted to Nuclear Physics A on 26 Feb 2010<br/>