We study damage spreading in models of two-dimensional systems undergoing first order phase transitions. We consider several models from the same nonconserved order parameter universality class, and find unexpected differences between them. An exact solution of the Ohta-Jasnow-Kawasaki model [Phys. Rev. Lett. 49, 1223 (1982)] yields the damage growth law D∼${\mathit{t}}^{\mathrm{\phi }}$, where φ=d/4 in d dimensions. In contrast, time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau simulations and Ising simulations with d=2, using heat-bath dynamics, show a power-law growth, but with an exponent of approximately 0.36, independent of the system sizes studied. In marked contrast, Metropolis dynamics shows damage growing via φ∼1, although the damage difference grows as ${\mathit{t}}^{0.4}$.

• Received 25 March 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.49.R4763