A phase transition refers to the change of a substance from one state of matter to another, such as from a solid to a liquid, liquid to gas, or solid to gas. These transitions occur when energy, typically in the form of heat, is added or removed from a system, causing changes in the arrangement and energy levels of the molecules within the substance. Common examples include the melting of ice into water, the boiling of water into steam, and the sublimation of dry ice into carbon dioxide gas. Phase transitions are characterized by specific changes in properties such as temperature, pressure, and volume, and are classified into different types, like first-order transitions which involve a latent heat (e.g., melting, boiling) and second-order transitions which do not (e.g., superconducting transitions). These phenomena are fundamental to various scientific fields, including physics, chemistry, and materials science.
Researchers have successfully manipulated the structural properties of magnetite using light-induced phase transitions. This technique uncovered hidden phases of magnetite, paving the way for new…
The brain exhibits structural criticality near phase transitions, consistent across species, potentially guiding the development of new brain models. When a magnet is heated, it…
A new machine-learning framework from MIT and the University of Basel that can automatically classify phases of physical systems could help scientists investigate novel materials….
A professor has developed a groundbreaking theory that provides a universal method for predicting melting points, addressing a century-old challenge in physics and offering significant…
Improved understanding of glassy dynamics could help scientists explain why a liquid behaves like a solid, and develop useful new materials. Researchers have identified a…
Solids can be melted by heating, but in the quantum world it can also be the other way around: In a joint effort, an experimental…
The central principle of superconductivity is that electrons form pairs. But can they also condense into foursomes? Recent findings have suggested they can, and a…
An international team of physicists has shown that novel non-equilibrium phases of matter — called prethermal discrete time crystals (DTCs) — can emerge in classical…
A new phase of matter, thought to be understandable only using quantum physics, can be studied with far simpler classical methods. Researchers from the University…
In a newly published study, University of Washington researchers detail the first-ever accurate determination of a solid-state triple point in vanadium dioxide. It is well…
Scientists have discovered that “supercooled” water transforms into a new form of liquid, a “liquid-liquid” phase transition that is important for understanding basic processes during…
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science’s Advanced Photon Source (APS) and the High Pressure Synergetic Consortium (HPSynC) show the first imaging…
MIT physicists are studying phase transition to gain a better understanding of superconductivity of electrons in metals. By examining how a gas turns into a…