The Origins of Phase Transitions in Small Systems

Abstract

The identification and classification of phases in small systems, e.g. nuclei, social and financial networks, clusters, and biological systems, where the traditional definitions of phase transitions are not applicable, is important to obtain a deeper understanding of the phenomena observed in such systems. Within a simple statistical model we investigate the validity and applicability of different classification schemes for phase transtions in small systems. We show that the whole complex temperature plane contains necessary information in order to give a distinct classification.

3 pages, 4 figures, revtex 4 beta 5, for further information see http://www.smallsystems.de

Cited by in corpus (15)

• Microcanonical entropy inflection points: Key to systematic understanding of transitions in finite systems
• Phase Transitions in Small Systems: Microcanonical vs. Canonical Ensembles
• Pairing transitions in the finite-temperature relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory
• Thermodynamic analogy for quantum phase transitions at zero temperature
• First order phase transitions: equivalence between bimodalities and the Yang-Lee theorem
• Non-analytic microscopic phase transitions and temperature oscillations in the microcanonical ensemble: An exactly solvable 1d-model for evaporation
• Comparison of the Adsorption Transition for Grafted and Nongrafted Polymers
• Invariant correlational entropy as a signature of quantum phase transitions in nuclei
• Transient backbending behavior in the Ising model with fixed magnetization
• Phase Transition in Small System
• Deceptive signals of phase transitions in small magnetic clusters
• Blocking temperature in magnetic nano-clusters
• Straight way to Thermo-Statistics, Phase Transitions, Second Law of Thermodynamics, but without Thermodynamic Limit
• Caloric curve for nuclear liquid-gas phase transition in relativistic mean-field hadronic model
• Thermodynamic laws in isolated systems