A Γ‐convergence result for the two‐gradient theory of phase transitions

The generalization to gradient vector fields of the classical double‐well, singularly perturbed functionals, where W(ξ) = 0 if and only if ξ = A or ξ = B, and A ? B is a rank‐1 matrix, is considered. Under suitable constitutive and growth hypotheses on W, it is shown that I_ε Γ‐converge to where K^* is the (constant) interfacial energy per unit area. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.