Disorder-L1₀ Transition Investigated by Phase Field Method with CVM Local Free Energy

Abstract

The ordering processes of nucleation-growth type and spinodal ordering type are examined using the Phase Field method (PFM) with the free energy formulated based on the Cluster Variation Method. The relaxation curves of Long Range Order parameter, ξ₁, predicted by this approach are compared with those obtained by the Path Probability Method (PPM) in the homogeneous limit. Furthermore, it is shown that microstructural evolution process, which is described by time evolution of spatial distribution of ξ₁², of spinodal ordering type is indistinguishable from the one of nucleation-growth type.