Dynamic approach to weak first-order phase transitions

A short-time dynamic approach to weak first-order phase transitions is proposed. Taking the two-dimensional Ports models as examples, from short-time behavior of nonequilibrium relaxational processes starting from high temperature and zero temperature states, pseudo-critical-points k* and K** are determined. A clear difference of the values for K* and K** distinguishes a weak first-order transition from a second-order one.