Collapse of metastability : dynamics of first-order phase transition / Seiji Miyashita.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Miyashita, S. (Seiji), 1954- author.

Series:

Fundamental theories of physics ; v. 211.

Fundamental theories of physics ; volume 211

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Phase transformations (Statistical physics).

Quantum theory.

Stability.

Many-body problem.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource : illustrations (black and white, and color).

Place of Publication:

Singapore : Springer, 2022.

Summary:

To understand phenomena in nature, it is important to focus not only on properties of stationary states, but also their changes in time, that is, the dynamics between bistable states. This book reviews the mechanics of first-order phase transitions and discusses relaxation and collapses of metastable states from various viewpoints, including Kramers' method for the lifetime of metastability, Langers analysis on the singularity, effects of thermal fluctuation studied by Neel and Brown, and eigenvalue structures of the transfer-matrix for the phase transitions. The book also goes into the mechanics of metastability in quantum systems from the viewpoints of the eigenvalue problem of the Hamiltonian and the Liouvillian for a dynamical process and discusses relations between quantum tunneling processes and metastability therein. Lastly, the coercivity of magnets consisting of an ensemble of grains is reviewed. The book is beneficial for those new in the field as a primer on first-order phase transition from modern perspectives. The comprehensive content offers overviews of related topics and allows readers to quickly catch up with developments in the field.

Contents:

Introduction

What is the Metastability

Metastability-Collapse by Thermal Fluctuation

Metastability-Collapse with Quantum Fluctuation

First-Order Phase Transition in Non-equilibrium Steady Systems

Eigenvalue Picture of the First-Order Phase Transition

Coercivity and Permanent Magnet

Summary.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Miyashita, S. (Seiji), 1954- Collapse of metastability.

ISBN:

9789811966682

9811966680

OCLC:

1350842398

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.