Phase field modeling of phase transitions stimulated by Joule heating

• Modeling of phase front propagation driven by Joule heating.
• Comparison of sharp interface and phase field modeling.
• Phase field modeling of front stability.
• Filament propagation between conducting electrodes.

We study the motion of a planar thermal wave, which is simultaneously a phase boundary in a thin cooled film, driven by the application of an electrical current and Joule heating. Based on theoretical modeling by Brener and Temkin (1996) [1] we employ a phase field model that reproduces the analytical predictions for planar front propagation and interface stability. Three-dimensional simulations of the growth of a filament advancing from one electrode to the other demonstrate the applicability of the model towards more complex geometries and problems originating from the microstructure formation in phase change materials.