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A Minimal Mechanism for the Phase Transition-Driven Mpemba Effect in Systems with a Single Order Parameter.
Li Li1, Ji-Xuan Hou1
1School of Physics, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 28, 2026
Summary
The Mpemba effect, where hot water freezes faster than cold, is explained by a new model. This mechanism shows how initial temperature affects cooling pathways and phase transition kinetics.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Thermodynamics
- Statistical Mechanics
Background:
- The Mpemba effect describes the counterintuitive observation that hotter water can freeze faster than colder water.
- The underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon are not fully understood, with various theories proposed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and demonstrate a simple, general mechanism for the Mpemba effect driven by phase transitions.
- To explain the effect using a single order parameter and standard Markovian dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Developed a theoretical model based on free-energy landscapes and distinct relaxation pathways.
- Utilized the extended spin-1 Nagle-Kardar model to illustrate the mechanism.
- Performed extensive Monte Carlo simulations to validate the findings.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that a higher initial temperature can lead to faster cooling by avoiding metastable states.
- Showed that the initial state's position in order parameter space influences phase transition kinetics.
- Confirmed a robust Mpemba effect in simulations, with hotter systems reaching the final phase faster.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a minimal and clear explanation for the Mpemba effect based on phase transition dynamics.
- The findings highlight the importance of initial conditions and free-energy landscape topography in determining cooling rates.
- This work offers a new perspective on anomalous cooling phenomena.
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