Phase Conversion After a Chiral Transition: Effects from Inhomogeneities and Finite Size

Abstract

We discuss the kinetics of phase conversion, through the nucleation of bubbles and spinodal decomposition, after a chiral transition within an effective field theory approach to low-energy QCD. We study possible effects resulting from the finite size of the expanding system for both the initial and the late-stage growth of domains, as well as those effects due to inhomogeneities in the chiral field which act as a background for the fermionic motion.

Comments: 6 pages, to appear in the proceedings of SEWM04, Helsinki, June 16-19, 2004