Abstract
We propose a general approach to study spin models with two symmetric absorbing states. Starting from the microscopic dynamics on a square lattice, we derive a Langevin equation for the time evolution of the magnetization field, that successfully explains coarsening properties of a wide range of nonlinear voter models and systems with intermediate states. We find that the macroscopic behavior only depends on the first derivatives of the spin-flip probabilities. Moreover, an analysis of the mean-field term reveals the three types of transitions commonly observed in these systems—generalized voter, Ising and directed percolation. Monte Carlo simulations of the spin dynamics qualitatively agree with theoretical predictions.
- Received 10 October 2008
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.78.061127
©2008 American Physical Society