Spinodal decomposition, power laws, and wetting at a triple point

Dynamics of growth in a three-component mixture with competing interactions

We study numerically the dynamics, in two dimensions, of phase separation in ternary mixtures with dipolar interactions which lead to the formation of modulated phases. We distinguish three different modulated phases: a hexagonal phase of droplets, a lamellar phase, and a hexagonal phase of bubbles. Inside the crystal structures an additional phase separation occurs "coloring" the texture. The dynamics in the droplet phase mixes the two kinds of droplets of different composition. The lamellar phase does not evolve toward parallel lamellae, and the phase separation inside the channels proceeds until they reach a grain boundary. The hexagonal bubble phase is never formed due to the phase separation that forms an interface of bubbles which blocks the contact between the two phases. In its place we find an unsuspected lamellar phase.