Structure and Energy of Diffuse Interfaces

The profiles c(x) and rj(x) are continuous. In (a), the grayscale image represents the spatial variation of a conserved variable, and the quantities c° and c° are the equilibrium values in the bulk phases at large distances from the interface (see Fig. 17.7). In (b). the drawing below the profile illustrates the spatial variation of a nonconserved variable such as local magnetization in the region around a domain wall. 

Minimizing T = / /( , S7 )dV produces equilibrium interface profiles (r). An equilibrated planar interface is characterized by its excess energy per unit area, 7, 

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