We consider spin systems between a finite number
of “species” or “phases” partitioning a cubic lattice
. We
suppose that interactions between points of the same phase are coercive while
those between points of different phases (or possibly between points of an
additional “weak phase”) are of lower order. Following a discrete-to-continuum
approach, we characterize the limit as a continuum energy defined on
-tuples of sets
(corresponding to the
strong phases) composed of a surface part, taking into account homogenization at the
interface of each strong phase, and a bulk part that describes the combined effect of
lower-order terms, weak interactions between phases, and possible oscillations in the
weak phase.
Keywords
spin systems, lattice energies, double porosity,
$\Gamma$-convergence, homogenization, discrete to
continuum, high contrast, interfacial energies, multiphase
materials