Gradient theory of phase transitions in composite media

Abstract

We study the behaviour of non-convex functionals singularly perturbed by a possibly oscillating inhomogeneous gradient term, in the spirit of the gradient theory of phase transitions. We show that a limit problem giving a sharp interface, as the perturbation vanishes, always exists, but may be inhomogeneous or anisotropic. We specialize this study when the perturbation oscillates periodically, highlighting three types of regimes, depending on the frequency of the oscillations. In the two extreme cases, a separation of scales effect is described.