Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
06:26
Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
Published on: May 15, 2017
Robustness of first-order phase transitions in one-dimensional long-range contact processes
Carlos E Fiore1, Mário J de Oliveira
1Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 19044, 81531-000 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Summary
Long-range contact processes may exhibit discontinuous phase transitions in one dimension. This study explores various models, finding discontinuous transitions possible for small sigma with single absorbing states.
Area of Science:
- Statistical Physics
- Complex Systems
Background:
- The behavior of contact processes in one dimension is a key area of research.
- Long-range interactions introduce complexities not seen in short-range models.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the possibility of discontinuous phase transitions in one-dimensional long-range contact processes.
- Explore how varying interaction rules and absorbing states affect transition dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a family of long-range contact processes defined by transition rates 1+aℓ(-σ).
- Examination of models with single and infinite absorbing states.
- Study of different particle creation and annihilation mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Discontinuous phase transitions are observed for small sigma in models with a single absorbing state.
- The presence of infinite absorbing states leads to distinct transition scenarios.
- Transition behavior is sensitive to interactions at the perimeter of inactive sites.
Conclusions:
- Long-range contact processes can exhibit discontinuous phase transitions in one dimension.
- The number of absorbing states significantly influences the system's critical behavior.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the role of interaction rules.
Related Concept Videos
01:20The Phase Rule
The phase rule describes the relationship between the variance (degrees of freedom), the number of components, and the number of phases in a system at equilibrium.Variance is a concept that denotes the number of independent intensive properties (properties are those that do not depend on the amount of material in the system), such as temperature, pressure, and composition, that can be altered without impacting the number of phases in equilibrium.In a single-component system, such as pure water,...
01:10First Law: Particles in One-dimensional Equilibrium
Newton's first law of motion states that a body at rest remains at rest, or if in motion, remains in motion at constant velocity, unless acted on by a net external force. It also states that there must be a cause for any change in velocity (a change in either magnitude or direction) to occur. This cause is a net external force. For example, consider what happens to an object sliding along a rough horizontal surface. The object quickly grinds to a halt, due to the net force of friction. If we...
01:21Phase Transitions
A phase transition is the process in which a substance changes from one state of matter to another, like from a solid to a liquid, liquid to gas, or vice versa, at a specific temperature and under given pressure conditions. This change is spontaneous and is affected by alterations in temperature and pressure. These parameters impact the strength of the forces between molecules (intermolecular forces) in the substance.During a phase transition, both the initial and final phases of the substance...
02:31Phase Transitions
Whether solid, liquid, or gas, a substance's state depends on the order and arrangement of its particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). Particles in the solid pack closely together, generally in a pattern. The particles vibrate about their fixed positions but do not move or squeeze past their neighbors. In liquids, although the particles are closely spaced, they are randomly arranged. The position of the particles are not fixed—that is, they are free to move past their neighbors to occupy...
01:18First Law: Particles in Two-dimensional Equilibrium
Recall that a particle in equilibrium is one for which the external forces are balanced. Static equilibrium involves objects at rest, and dynamic equilibrium involves objects in motion without acceleration; but it is important to remember that these conditions are relative. For instance, an object may be at rest when viewed from one frame of reference, but that same object would appear to be in motion when viewed by someone moving at a constant velocity.
Newton's first law tells us about the...
Newton's first law tells us about the...
01:21Entropy Changes Accompanying Specific Processes
Entropy, a measure of disorder in a system, changes during phase transitions like freezing or boiling. At the transition temperature Ttrs, where two phases are in equilibrium, the phase transition is a reversible process. The entropy change can be calculated from a substance's enthalpy of transition using the equation ΔStrs = ΔtrsH /Ttrs.When a perfect gas expands isothermally from one volume to another, entropy increases logarithmically with volume. Conversely, isothermal compression results...