Possible links between the liquid-gas and deconfinement-hadronization phase transitions

It is commonly accepted that strongly interacting matter has several phase transitions in different domains of temperature and baryon density. In this contribution I discuss two most popular phase transitions which, in principle, can be accessed in nuclear collisions. One of them, the liquid-gas phase transition, is well established theoretically and studied experimentally in nuclear multifragmentation reactions at intermediate energies. The other one, the deconfinement-hadronization phase transition, is at the focus of present and future experimental studies with relativistic heavy-ion beams at SPS, RHIC and LHC. Possible links between these two phase transitions are identified from the viewpoint of their manifestation in violent nuclear collisions.     

Mobility edges and reentrant localization in one-dimensional dimerized non-Hermitian quasiperiodic lattice

The mobility edges and reentrant localization transitions are studied in one-dimensional dimerized lattice with nonHermitian either uniform or staggered quasiperiodic potentials.We find that the non-Hermitian uniform quasiperiodic disorder can induce an intermediate phase where the extended states coexist with the localized ones,which implies that the system has mobility edges.The localization transition is accompanied by the PT symmetry breaking transition.While if the non-Hermitian quasiperiodic disorder is staggered,we demonstrate the existence of multiple intermediate phases and multiple reentrant localization transitions based on the finite size scaling analysis.Interestingly,some already localized states will become extended states and can also be localized again for certain non-Hermitian parameters.The reentrant localization transitions are associated with the intermediate phases hosting mobility edges.Besides,we also find that the non-Hermiticity can break the reentrant localization transition where only one intermediate phase survives.More detailed information about the mobility edges and reentrant localization transitions are presented by analyzing the eigenenergy spectrum,inverse participation ratio,and normalized participation ratio.     

Threshold Saturation in Spatially Coupled Constraint Satisfaction Problems

We consider chains of random constraint satisfaction models that are spatially coupled across a finite window along the chain direction. We investigate their phase diagram at zero temperature using the survey propagation formalism and the interpolation method. We prove that the SAT-UNSAT phase transition threshold of an infinite chain is identical to the one of the individual standard model, and is therefore not affected by spatial coupling. We compute the survey propagation complexity using population dynamics as well as large degree approximations, and determine the survey propagation threshold. We find that a clustering phase survives coupling. However, as one increases the range of the coupling window, the survey propagation threshold increases and saturates towards the phase transition threshold. We also briefly discuss other aspects of the problem. Namely, the condensation threshold is not affected by coupling, but the dynamic threshold displays saturation towards the condensation one. All these features may provide a new avenue for obtaining better provable algorithmic lower bounds on phase transition thresholds of the individual standard model.     

Intermediate structures in two-dimensional molecular self-assembly

We discuss the occurrence of transition structures observed in molecular self-assembly at surfaces. The increasing surface coverage transitions from low coverage structures to high coverage structures are a common phenomenon. However, often observed and not perfectly understood is the formation of intermediate structures, sometimes with lower lateral density than the initial phase. We will present different examples from our recent work and discuss the possible mechanisms of intermediate phase formation. In addition, we present intermediate structures occurring due to temperature-controlled reversible phase transitions.     

Structural phase transition induced by the Jahn-Teller effect. Antiferrodistortive ordering

We study the phase transitions induced by the Jahn-Teller effect ofE-doublet ions in a cubic crystal with antiferrodistortive interactions. AnS=1 pseudospin model is constructed which takes the three lowest vibronic levels of the Jahn-Teller complexes into account. We find a second-order phase transition to a tetragonal phase with two inequivalent sublattices. The transitions between the vibronic levels give rise to bands of collective vibronic excitations with strongly temperature-dependent frequencies. The nature of the various modes is analyzed in detail. We also study the coupling to the elastic displacement field of the crystal. For a sufficiently large coupling constant, this coupling stabilizes a different low-temperature tetragonal phase with two equivalent sublattices. In a certain region of coupling constants, a transition occurs between the two tetragonal phases by second-order transitions to an intermediate phase of lower symmetry. The influence of the coupling on the dynamic behaviour is discussed.Supported by Schweizerischer Nationalfonds     

Wave localization in complex networks with high clustering

We show that strong clustering of links in complex networks, i.e., a high probability of triadic closure, can induce a localization-delocalization quantum phase transition (Anderson-like transition) of coherent excitations. For example, the propagation of light wave packets between two distant nodes of an optical network (composed of fibers and beam splitters) will be absent if the fraction of closed triangles exceeds a certain threshold. We suggest that such an experiment is feasible with current optics technology. We determine the corresponding phase diagram as a function of clustering coefficient and disorder for scale-free networks of different degree distributions P(k) approximately k;{-lambda}. Without disorder, we observe no phase transition for lambda<4, a quantum transition for lambda>4, and an additional distinct classical transition for lambda>4.5. Disorder reduces the critical clustering coefficient such that phase transitions occur for smaller lambda.     

Structural phase transition induced by the Jahn-Teller effect. Antiferrodistortive ordering

We study the phase transitions induced by the Jahn-Teller effect ofE-doublet ions in a cubic crystal with antiferrodistortive interactions. AnS=1 pseudospin model is constructed which takes the three lowest vibronic levels of the Jahn-Teller complexes into account. We find a second-order phase transition to a tetragonal phase with two inequivalent sublattices. The transitions between the vibronic levels give rise to bands of collective vibronic excitations with strongly temperature-dependent frequencies. The nature of the various modes is analyzed in detail. We also study the coupling to the elastic displacement field of the crystal. For a sufficiently large coupling constant, this coupling stabilizes a different low-temperature tetragonal phase with two equivalent sublattices. In a certain region of coupling constants, a transition occurs between the two tetragonal phases by second-order transitions to an intermediate phase of lower symmetry. The influence of the coupling on the dynamic behaviour is discussed.     

Virtual levels,mixed valence phase and electronic phase transitions in rare earth compounds

We discuss the influence of the Coulomb interaction between localized and conduction electrons on the properties of magnetic impurities in metals and on electronic phase transitions such as the γ—α—α' transitions in Ce and the insulator—metal transition in SmS. Due to excitonic pairing between ?-holes and s-electrons, similar to that in excitonic insulators, the virtual ?-levels in metals may acquire an extra width, which, in contrast to the width in the Anderson model, depends upon the position of the ?-level, the width being the largest when the ?-level crosses the Fermi-level. This effect stabilizes the intermediate valence phase. As a result, in the Falicov model we get either a gradual phase transition (like that found in SmTe), or a first order one, followed by the intermediate valence phase (SmS), or, which is most interesting, two successive jump-like transitions with a mixed valence in between, similar to the γ—α—α' transitions in Ce. The mixed valence phase is described here as a kind of an “excitonic insulator”. The theory also predicts the correct slopes of the phase equilibrium lines for both Ce and SmS.     

Competition between phase separation and "Classical" intermediate valence in an exactly solved model

The exact solution of the spin-1 / 2 Falicov-Kimball model on an infinite-coordination Bethe lattice is analyzed in the regime of "classical" intermediate valence. We find that (i) either phase separation or a direct metal-insulator transition precludes intermediate valence over a large portion of the phase diagram, and (ii) within the intermediate valence phase, only continuous transitions are found as functions of the localized f-electron energy or temperature.     

Critical and tricritical behavior of a selectively diluted triangular Ising antiferromagnet in a field

We study a geometrically frustrated triangular Ising antiferromagnet in an external magnetic field which is selectively diluted with nonmagnetic impurities employing an effective-field theory with correlations and Monte Carlo simulations. We focus on the frustration-relieving effects of such a selective dilution on the phase diagram and find that it can lead to rather intricate phase diagrams in the dilution-field parameters space. In particular, in a highly (weakly) diluted system the frustration is greatly (little) relieved and such a system is found to display only the second(first)-order phase transitions at any field. On the other hand, for a wide interval of intermediate dilution values the transition remains second-order at low fields but it changes to first-order at higher fields and the system displays a tricritical behavior. The existence of the first-order transition in the region of intermediate dilution and high fields is verified by Monte Carlo simulations.     

Baryon asymmetry from a two stage electroweak phase transition?

We investigate an extension of the Standard Model with a second Higgs doublet, showing a two stage phase transition. Wash-out of a baryon asymmetry after the phase transition can be easily avoided in this class of models.B+L transitions are more strongly suppressed in the intermediate phase than in the high temperature symmetric phase, however. Therefore, it becomes more difficult if not impossible to generate a sufficient baryon asymmetry during the phase transition.supported by Landes Graduierten Förderungs Gesetz     

高压下Fe从bcc到hcp结构相变机理的第一性原理计算

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法, 分别研究了压力作用下Fe从体心立方 (bcc,α 相) 结构到六角密排(hcp, ε相) 结构相变的两种不同的相变机理: 相变过程中出现亚稳定的面心立方(fcc) 结构(bcc-fcc-hcp) , 以及相变过程中没有出现亚稳定的fcc结构(bcc-hcp) . 计算结果表明: 静水压力条件下, 相变过程中并不会产生亚稳定的fcc结构, 这与最近的原位XRD实验测量结果相一致. 随着压力的增加, fcc-hcp的相变势垒逐渐增加, 压力趋向于阻止Fe从fcc结构到hcp结构的相变. 计算得到了相变过程中原子磁性和结构的详细信息, 分析表明相变过程中涉及复杂的磁性转变, 并且讨论了原子磁性对结构转变影响的物理机理. 此外, 对分子动力学模拟中产生亚稳定的fcc结构的原因也进行了讨论. 关键词： 相变机理 静水压力 第一性原理 铁     

First-order phase transition through an intermediate state

The theory of first-order phase transitions in systems where the direct formation of nuclei of a new phase is inhibited for any reason, for example, because of the extremely high elastic energy, has been constructed using the example of the silicon-silicon carbide phase transition due to the chemical reaction with carbon monoxide. It has been shown that, in this case, the phase transition occurs through an intermediate state, which significantly promotes the formation of new-phase nuclei. For the silicon-silicon carbide phase transition, such an intermediate state is the “pre-carbide” state of silicon saturated with dilatation dipoles, i.e., pairs formed by a carbon atom and a silicon vacancy that are strongly attracted to each other. The model dependence of the potential energy of systems with an intermediate phase on the reaction coordinates has been investigated. The kinetics of transformation of the intermediate state into a new phase has been described.     

Adaptability and "intermediate phase" in randomly connected networks

We present a simple model that enables us to analytically characterize a floppy to rigid transition and an associated self-adaptive intermediate phase in a random bond network. In this intermediate phase, the network adapts itself to lower the stress due to constraints. Our simulations verify this picture. We use these insights to identify applications of these ideas in computational problems such as vertex cover and K-satisfiability.     

Fingerprints of intrinsic phase separation: magnetically doped two-dimensional electron gas

In addition to Anderson and Mott localization, intrinsic phase separation has long been advocated as the third fundamental mechanism controlling the doping-driven metal-insulator transitions. In electronic system, where charge neutrality precludes global phase separation, it may lead to various inhomogeneous states and dramatically affect transport. Here we theoretically predict the precise experimental signatures of such phase separation-driven metal-insulator transitions. We show that anomalous transport is expected in an intermediate regime around the transition, displaying very strong temperature and magnetic field dependence but very weak density dependence. Our predictions find striking agreement with recent experiments on Mn-doped CdTe quantum wells, a system where we identify the microscopic origin for intrinsic phase separation.     

Explosive percolation in the human protein homology network

We study the explosive character of the percolation transition in a real-world network. We show that the emergence of a spanning cluster in the Human Protein Homology Network (H-PHN) exhibits similar features to an Achlioptas-type process and is markedly different from regular random percolation. The underlying mechanism of this transition can be described by slow-growing clusters that remain isolated until the later stages of the process, when the addition of a small number of links leads to the rapid interconnection of these modules into a giant cluster. Our results indicate that the evolutionary-based process that shapes the topology of the H-PHN through duplication-divergence events may occur in sudden steps, similarly to what is seen in first-order phase transitions.     

Quantum phase transitions and conserved charges

The constraints on the scaling properties of conserved charge densities in the vicinity of a zero temperature (T), second-order quantum phase transition are studied. We introduce a generalized Wilson ratio, characterizing the nonlinear response to an external field,H, coupling to any conserved charge, and argue that it is a completely universal function ofH/T: this is illustrated by computations on model systems. We also note implications for transitions where the order parameter is a conserved charge (as in aT=0 ferromagnet-paramagnet transition).     

Phase transitions for an ideal Bose condensate trapped in?a?quartic potential

Based on the classification scheme of phase transitions, we study the phase transitions for an ideal Bose gas with a finite number of particles confined in a three-dimensional quartic trap. We show that the phase transition of an ideal Bose gas in the three-dimensional quartic trap is of third order for finite particle numbers, quite different from the fact that the phase transition is of first order in the thermodynamic limit. We discuss the effects of finite particle numbers on the nature of the phase transitions, and determine the dependence of transition temperature on particle number.     

Unstability and phase transition splitting in perovskites at non-ferroelectric structural phase transitions

This report considers the critical behaviour of perovskites near non-ferroelectric phase transition taking into account the elastic degrees of freedom. It is unambigously shown that only the first-order transitions may occur in this type of crystal. This paper points out that splitting of continuous phase transition into two first order transitions with non-Landau intermediate phase may take place. Estimations given in the work allowing to look for materials in which such splitting is possible purposefully.