On the Nature of the Gaussian Approximations in Phase Ordering Kinetics s

Abstract

The structure of the gaussian auxiliary field approximation in the theory of phase ordering kinetics is analysed with the aim of placing the method within the context of a systematic theory. While we are unable to do this for systems with a scalar order parameter, where the approximation remains uncontrolled, a systematic development about the gaussian approximation can be outlined for systems with a vector order parameter in terms of a suitably defined $1/N$-expansion.