DIFFUSION-LIMITED GROWTH IN SYSTEMS WITH CONTINUOUS SYMMETRY

To study the effect of slow heat conduction during phase separation, w e discuss the relaxation properties of an O(N) symmetric model with ph ase field type dynamics, where a nonconserved order parameter field co uples bilinearly to a diffusive field. In the limit N --> infinity we obtain an exact solution. The analysis reveals three different types o f growth regimes and a very rich dynamical behavior. Finally the conne ction with the Mullins-Sekerka instability is expounded.