title: Dynamic metastability in the two-dimensional Potts ferromagnet.
abstract: We investigate the nonequilibrium dynamics of the two-dimensional (2D) Potts model on the square lattice after a quench below the discontinuous transition point. By means of numerical simulations of systems with q=12, 24, and 48, we observe the onset of a stationary regime below the temperature-driven transition, in a temperature interval decreasing with the system size and increasing with q. These results obtained dynamically agree with those obtained from the analytical continuation of the free energy [J. L. Meunier and A. Morel, Eur. Phys. J. B 13, 341 (2000)], from which metastability in the 2D Potts model results to be a finite-size effect.
authors.affiliation: IPCF-CNR, UOS Roma Kerberos and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università "La Sapienza," Piazzale A. Moro, 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibáñez Berganza
authors.affiliation: Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi - CNR, via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petri
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale 84, 00146 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coletti
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008280:Magnetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D044367:Phase Transition; D013696:Temperature