Phase transition

In physics, a phase transition is the transformation of a thermodynamic system from one phase to another. The distinguishing characteristic of a phase transition is an abrupt sudden change in one or more physical properties, in particular the heat capacity, with a small change in a thermodynamic variable such as the temperature. Examples of phase transitions are:

References

• Anderson, P.W., Basic Notions of Condensed Matter Physics, Perseus Publishing (1997).
• Goldenfeld, N., Lectures on Phase Transitions and the Renormalization Group, Perseus Publishing (1992).
• Landau, L.D. and Lifshitz, E.M., Statistical Physics Part 1, vol. 5 of Course of Theoretical Physics, Pergamon, 3rd Ed. (1994).
• Kleinert, H., Critical Properties of φ⁴-Theories, World Scientific (Singapore, 2001); Paperback ISBN 98102465876 (readable online here).
• Kleinert, H., Gauge Fields in Condensed Matter, Vol. I, "SUPERFLOW AND VORTEX LINES; Disorder Fields, Phase Transitions,", pp. 1--742, World Scientific (Singapur, 1989); Paperback ISBN 9971-50-210-0 (readable online here)