The evolution of cellular structures

Abstract

A large class of evolving nonequilibrium systems, known collectively as cellular structures, are composed of nearly-uniform domains of polygonal-like or polyhedral-like shape (in two- or three-dimensional systems respectively) separated by thin boundaries endowed with line or surface energy. Work done mainly during the last decade has shown that the evolution of mature structures is characterized by universal or system-independent statistical distributions which possess scaling properties. The author presents an introduction to cellular structures, discusses the fundamental role played by geometry in the evolution of these systems and surveys the recent experimental and theoretical developments in the field.