WAVELENGTH SELECTION IN SLOWLY QUENCHED SYSTEMS

In systems rapidly quenched into the unstable regime, the wavelength o f the fastest growing unstable mode depends on the quench depth. In sy stems which are gradually driven unstable, there is no quench depth, h ence a different mechanism must be responsible for the wavelength sele ction. We propose a selection mechanism in this case, obtain scaling r elations, and discuss the criterion to determine whether a quench is r apid or slow.