We investigate the nonequilibrium evolution of a scalar field in (2+1) dimensions. The field is set in a double-well potential in contact (open) or not (closed) with a heat bath. For closed systems, we observe the synchronized emergence of coherent spatiotemporal configurations, identified with oscillons. This initial global ordering degenerates into localized order until all oscillons disappear. We show that the synchronization is driven by resonant parametric oscillations of the field’s zero mode and that local ordering is only possible outside equipartition. None of these orderings occur for open systems.

• Received 12 September 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.68.065203