Coarse graining and first order phase transitions

Abstract

We discuss the dependence of the coarse grained free energy and the classical interface tension on the coarse graining scale $k$. A stable range appears only if the renormalized dimensionless couplings at the critical temperature are small. This gives a quantitative criterion for the validity of computations within Langer's theory of spontaneous bubble nucleation.

Comments: 14 pages, 5 figures