%0 Journal Article
%T Thermal Phase Mixing During First Order Phase Transitions
%A Julian Borrill
%A Marcelo Gleiser
%J Physics
%D 1994
%I arXiv
%R 10.1103/PhysRevD.51.4111
%X The dynamics of first order phase transitions are studied in the context of (3+1)-dimensional scalar field theories. Particular attention is paid to the question of quantifying the strength of the transition, and how `weak' and `strong' transitions have different dynamics. We propose a model with two available low temperature phases separated by an energy barrier so that one of them becomes metastable below the critical temperature $T_c$. The system is initially prepared in this phase and is coupled to a thermal bath. Investigating the system at its critical temperature, we find that `strong' transitions are characterized by the system remaining localized within its initial phase, while `weak' transitions are characterized by considerable phase mixing. Always at $T_c$, we argue that the two regimes are themselves separated by a (second order) phase transition, with an order parameter given by the fractional population difference between the two phases and a control parameter given by the strength of the scalar field's quartic self-coupling constant. We obtain a Ginzburg-like criterion to distinguish between `weak' and `strong' transitions, in agreement with previous results in (2+1)-dimensions.
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/9410235v2