[en] We have developed a method for extracting equilibrium observables from non-equilibrium simulations by rapidly changing the temperature and recording the subsequent evolution of the Polyakov loop. Both nucleation and spinodal decomposition are observed to occur. In the latter case the Polyakov loop correlation function shows exponential growth for wavenumbers less than or equal to the critical wavenumber k_c. We have constructed the bare as well as the effective potential for the Polyakov loop, from which k_c and m_D/k_c can be extracted as a function of temperature. The shift from spinodal decomposition to nucleation as the dominant equilibration mechanism occurs at the spinodal temperature that separates these two regimes