A homogenization result in the gradient theory of phase transitions

Abstract

A variational model in the context of the gradient theory for fluid-fluid phase transitions with small scale heterogeneities is studied. In particular, the case where the scale \varepsilon of the small homogeneities is of the same order of the scale governing the phase transition is considered. The interaction between homogenization and the phase transitions process will lead, in the limit as \varepsilon \to 0 , to an anisotropic interfacial energy.