Phase separation dynamics in driven diffusive systems

We study phase separation dynamics in a driven diffusive system. Our simulations are based on the Cahn-Hilliard equation with an additional flux term due to an external field. We study the dynamical scaling parallel and perpendicular to the field. A crossover is observed from isotropic domains at early times to extremely anisotropic domains at later times. We find that the inverse interfacial density (an isotropic measure of the domain size) increases as t^α, with α=1/3, from early times independent of the field strength, even though we do not observe dynamical scaling during these times. Our results indicate that a growth exponent α=1/3 may be more universal than previously expected. We analyze the dynamics in terms of surface driven instabilities and one-dimensional solitary waves.