Pattern Formation in Dynamic Phase Transitions

Instability is the main challenge in simulating dynamic phase transitions. For a van der Waals fluid, we introduce low order dissipative mechanisms with discrete Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) models, including a relaxation model. In one and higher space dimensions, numerical results demonstrate the complexities of dynamics. While eventually a good separation of phases is reached, interesting wave patterns are observed at an earlier stage.