Eutectic and peritectic solidification patterns

Recent advances in the understanding of eutectic and peritectic two-phase pattern formation under purely diffusive transport are reviewed. The parallel progress of two key techniques, namely, in situ experimentation with model, low-melting transparent and metallic alloys in thin and bulk samples, and numerical phase-field simulations, is highlighted. Experiments and simulations are interpreted in the light of the theory of non-equilibrium pattern formation phenomena. Focus is put on microstructure selection and morphological transitions, multiscale patterns in ternary alloys, and the influence of crys- tallographic effects on pattern formation. Open problems, for example on crystallographic effects, irreg- ular eutectics, and peritectic solidification, are outlined.