Self tuning phase separation in a model with competing interactions inspired by biological cell polarization
Abstract
We present a theoretical study of a system with competing short-range ferromagnetic attraction and a long-range anti-ferromagnetic repulsion, in the presence of a uniform external magnetic field. The interplay between these interactions, at sufficiently low temperature, leads to the self-tuning of the magnetization to a value which triggers phase coexistence, even in the presence of the external field. The investigation of this phenomenon is performed using a Ginzburg-Landau functional in the limit of an infinite number of order parameter components (large model). The scalar version of the model is expected to describe the phase separation taking place on a cell surface when this is immersed in a uniform concentration of chemical stimulant. A phase diagram is obtained as function of the external field and the intensity of the long-range repulsion. The time evolution of order parameter and of the structure factor in a relaxation process are studied in different regions of the phase diagram.
Cite
@article{arxiv.0812.2807,
title = {Self tuning phase separation in a model with competing interactions inspired by biological cell polarization},
author = {T. Ferraro and A. Coniglio and M. Zannetti},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0812.2807},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
new title and largely revised version, to be published in Phys.Rev. E