Coarsening in Two-Dimensional Soap Froths and the Large-Q Potts Model

Abstract

ABSTRACTA detailed comparison between the experimental evolution of a two-dimensional soap froth and the large Q state Potts model is presented. The pattern evolution starting from identical initial conditions will be compared as well as a variety of distribution functions and correlations of the two systems. Simulations on different lattices show that the discrete lattice of the Potts model causes deviations from universal domain growth by weakening the vertex angle boundary conditions that form the basis of von Neumann's law. We show that the anisotropy inherent in a discrete lattice simulation, which masks the underlying ‘universal’ grain growth, can be overcome by increasing the range of the interaction between spins or increasing the temperature. Excellent overall agreement between the kinetics, topological distributions and domain size distributions between the low lattice anisotropy Potts-model simulations and the soap froth suggests that the Potts model is useful for studying domain growth in a wide variety of physical systems.