Elastic studies of phase transitions

We report some results on acoustic studies of phase transitions in which the order parameter is coupled to the elastic wave strain, when direct behaviour observation is not possible. First by Brillouin scattering it was possible to observe the softening of C₅₅ of ammonium oxalate hemihydrate and it was concluded that the order parameter is not the deformation. In the case of members of A₂MX₄ family a softening of C₆₆ related to a shear wave near the lock-in transition was observed for [N(CH₃)₄]₂ZnCl₄, as previously found for C ₅₅ of K₂SeO₄. Such a behaviour did not occur for (NH₄)₂BeF₄ in which a strong hysteresis effect appeared.     

Elastic anomalies at phase transitions in multiferroics

The temperature dependences of the elastic modulus in multiferroics-magnetoelectrics are analyzed, in which magnetic and ferroelectric orderings appear as the result of two successive phase transitions. The analytical relationships for the elastic modulus near the phase transitions to ordered states are obtained for the cases of either linear-quadratic or biquadratic contributions to magneto- and electroelastic coupling. The explicit dependence of the elastic modulus in the multiferroic phase on the magnetoelectric coupling constant was found. It is shown that the characteristic elastic properties in multiferroics can be treated using the Landau theory without taking into account fluctuations. The analysis includes changes in the phase diagrams due to the magneto- and electroelastic coupling.     

Elastic phase transitions in metals at high pressures

The elastic phase transitions of cubic metals at high pressures are investigated within the framework of Landau theory. It is shown that at pressures comparable with the magnitude of the bulk modulus the phase transition is connected with the loss of stability relative to uniform deformation of the crystalline lattice. Discontinuity of the order parameter at the transition point and its equilibrium value are expressed through the second-?to fourth-order elastic constants. The second-,third-?and fourth-order elastic constants and phonon dispersion curves of vanadium under hydrostatic pressure are obtained by first-principles calculations. Structural transformation in vanadium under pressure is studied using the obtained results. It is shown that the experimentally observed at P?≈?69?GPa phase transition in vanadium is the first-order phase transition close to a second-order phase transition.     

Soliton microdynamics of heat conduction in plutonium and uranium in the temperature range of martensitic phase transitions

The microdynamics of large-amplitude nonlinear lattice vibrations of plutonium and uranium has been investigated at high reactor temperatures in the ranges of martensitic phase transitions. Solutions of nonlinear dynamic equations have been obtained using the Lennard-Jones interatomic potential for the soliton generation and the energy transfer by solitons between the crystal boundaries in the shells. The synchronism of the soliton trajectories and peaks of energy fluxes demonstrates an analog of the shot effect. The temperature dependences of thermal conductivity coefficients are consistent with the experiment and exhibit local maxima in the ranges of phase transitions. A spectral analysis has revealed that the dominant heat transfer is provided by rarefaction solitons. The martensitic phase transitions are accompanied by a reorganization of the spectral density in the phase plane with a sharp increase in the high-frequency range. The spectral density has maxima of the quasi-biphonon type. The obtained data in dimensionless form, apart from plutonium and uranium, can be used for other monatomic crystals. The specific features of the thermal conductivity and microdynamics of the formation of vacancies and pores in crystals without shells have been discussed.     

Soliton and multiphonon microdynamics of thermal conductivity of plutonium and uranium in the temperature range of martensitic phase transitions

The microdynamics of nonlinear crystal lattice vibrations of Pu and U at temperatures of martensitic phase transitions has been studied. Using the Lenard-Jones potential, the dynamic equations are solved when the energy is transferred by solitons. The synchronism of solitons and the energy flux peaks demonstrates the staccato-effect. The temperature dependences of the thermal conductivity have maxima at the phase transitions. A spectral analysis shows that the main heat transfer is provided by rarefaction solitons. Upon the martensitic transition, the spectral density is transformed with “ignition” of the high-frequency region. The spectral density demonstrates maxima of the quasi-biphonon type.     

Cosmic phase transitions

The sequence of phase transitions during the hot history of the universe is followed within a phenomenological framework. Particular emphasis is put on the QCD confinement transition, which is at reach under earth laboratory conditions. A tepid inflationary scenario on the GUT scale with bubble growth at moderate supercooling is discussed.     

量子相变

量子相变是一种发生在绝对零度,由量子涨落而非热涨落导致的相变现象,满足著名的海森堡不确定关系。通过零温量子临界点的研究,可获知物质系统更广泛范围的行为,包括稀土磁性绝缘体,高温超导体和二维电子气体等。     

Structural phase transitions in ZnS

X-ray diffraction techniques have been used to investigate structural phase transitions in ZnS between 20 and 1200°C. These measurements imply that the transition from the cubic 3C structure to the hexagonal 2H structure is a first-order phase transition while transitions between the 2H, 4H, and the 6H(33) hexagonal structures were found to obey the symmetry rules of second-order phase transitions. Direct transitions from the cubic 3C structure to the 4 or 6H hexagonal structures are not observed.     

Pressure-induced phase transitions in gypsum

Abstract

We report high-pressure Raman scattering spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray diffraction investigations on gypsum, CaSO₄ · 2H₂O, at room temperature in a diamond cell. With increasing pressure, measurements indicate that CaSO₄ · 2H₂O undergoes two stages of crystalline-state phase transitions at 5 and 9 GPa, and then converts to a disordered phase above 11 GPa. The structures of the three high-pressure phases of gypsum have not been determined yet. These phases are tentatively named as “post-gypsum-I” (PG-I), “post-gypsum-II” (PG-II) and “disordered” according to the sequence of their appearance with pressure.

Gypsum shows anisotropic compressibility along three crystallographic axes with b > c > a below 5 GPa. The difference in the behavior of the two OH stretching modes in gypsum is attributed to the different reduction rate in the hydrogen bonding distances by the anisotropic axial compressibility.     

Isostructural phase transitions in solids

A model of electrons interacting with lattice vibrations is shown to exhibit an isostructural phase transition as a function of applied force by relating the Hamiltonian to that of an Ising model in magnetic field.     

Coarsening in fluid phase transitions

We review the understanding of the kinetics of fluid phase separation in various space dimensions. Morphological differences, percolating or disconnected domains, based on overall composition in a binary liquid or on density in a vapor–liquid system, are discussed. Depending upon the morphology, various possible mechanisms for domain growth are pointed out and discussions of corresponding theoretical predictions are provided. On the computational front, useful models and simulation methodologies are presented. Theoretically predicted growth laws have been tested via molecular dynamics simulations of vapor–liquid transitions. In the case of a disconnected structure, the mechanism has been confirmed directly.     

Singularities in first-order phase transitions

Several theories of phase transitions and their inter-relations have been criticized, focusing on the problem of whether z _c, the value of the fugacity corresponding to the point of condensation, is given by z _s, the smallest real positive singularity of the analytic function defined by the power series using volume-independent cluster integrals, or not. The present situation has been analysed and it is made clear that none of the existing theories can give the answer to this problem. Plausibility arguments for an affirmative or negative answer are discussed.     

Magnetic phase transitions in garnets

The phenomenological theory broadly applicable to magnetic transitions in ferrimagnetic garnets is discussed briefly. The experimental techniques, particularly nuclear magnetic resonance and Mössbauer effect spectroscopy, are then reviewed. Finally, there is a review of the results on specific garnets which undergo such transitions. Some remaining problems are pointed out.     

Stress-induced phase transitions in diamond

A phase transformation in diamond into an intermediate carbon phase (ICP) was revealed in regions of maximal shear stress of diamond anvils. The transition was stimulated by additional stresses supplied to the compressed anvils with torque by a rotation of the anvil around the anvil's axis; maximal shear stress approached 55 GPa during the rotation. Creation of an ICP is considered as a mechanism of the stress-induced stability loss of the diamond structure. The characteristic Raman bands of ICP near 250, 500, 650–850 and 1050–1390 cm^?1 were observed in the failure regions.     

磁性量子相变

量子相变广泛存在于关联电子材料体系中,与非常规超导和奇异金属行为有着紧密的联系。近年来,人们对量子相变的认识正在不断深入,不同类型的量子相变相继被发现。揭示量子相变的普适分类,发展和完善量子相变理论,探索量子临界点附近的呈展量子态及其产生机理是当前量子相变研究的热点。文章简要介绍磁性量子相变的一些最新研究进展以及面临的挑战。     

Confinement and phase transitions

Using a density dependent quark mass to express non-perturbative interaction effects, we calculate the critical density for a phase transition between nuclear and quark matter atT=0.     

On tensor phase transitions

Within the Landau theory, phase diagrams are obtained for second-order phase transitions with order parameter in the form of a symmetric traceless tensor of rank at most six that is transformed in accordance with a one-dimensional representation of a crystal group. The case of two-dimensional representation is analyzed for rank equal to three.