Computer Simulation of a Discontinuous Phase Transition in the Two‐Dimensional One‐Spin‐Flip Ising Model

It is fair to say that discontinuous phase transitions, such as the magnetization reversal in a ferromagnet, are still not fully understood. In this situation it is natural to study a model system, simple enough to obtain some fundamental information on the nonequilibrium phenomena associated with these transitions. We considered the two‐dimensional one‐spin‐flip Ising model, which was initiated by Glauber. The numerical data as obtained by means of the Monte Carlo technique reveals the existence of long‐lived metastable states. However, it does not support the existence of a spinodal. A motion picture, showing how spin clusters form, coalesce and disintegrate, and how the nucleation processes of the other phase takes place, will be shown. For a more detailed discussion of this work we refer to Ref. 3.