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Everything about Phase transition

Physical process of transition between basic states of matter

In physics, chemistry and biology, a phase transition is the physical process of transition between one state of a medium and another. Commonly the term is used to refer to changes among the basic states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas, and in rare cases, plasma. A phase of a thermodynamic system and the states of matter have uniform physical properties. During a phase transition of a given medium, certain properties of the medium change as a result of the change of external conditions, such as temperature or pressure. This can be a discontinuous change; for example, a liquid may become gas upon heating to its boiling point, resulting in an abrupt change in volume. The identification of the external conditions at which a transformation occurs defines the phase transition point. Wikipedia →

🧭 Start here: a 6-step reading path

  1. Read the overview: Phase transitionA 5-minute orientation
  2. Skim a recent paper: mRNA lipid nanoparticle phase transitionInfluential work since 2022
  3. Pick up a classic book: Phase Transitions and Critical PhenomenaThe most-reprinted book on the subject
  4. Read the landmark paper: Ordering, metastability and phase transitions in two-dimensional systemsCited 8,908 times
  5. Go sideways: Universality classA closely related topic
  6. Go sideways: Condensed matter physicsA closely related topic

📖 Definitions

Noun The transition between thermodynamic phases of a physical system, especially one between the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases of a substance.

🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

🆕 Influential since 2022

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