Magnetic Phase Transitions

Magnetic crystals are ideal systems to study the universal properties of phase transitions, particularly systems with quenched randomness and frustration. Pure systems with different symmetries provide the foundation for studies in corresponding systems with quenched randomness. Because phenomena near phase transitions have universal properties, results from bulk magnetic crystals provide a basis for understanding phase transitions in films and nanoparticles, as well as many non-magnetic materials.This motivates the subject of this book, which discusses phase transitions studies in magnetic crystals from the perspective of an experimentalist who has done extensive work in the field. The advantage is that many experimental techniques are described in sufficient detail for a good understanding of the results and their comparison to theory.

The present volume contains the courses given at a Summer School on "Magne tic Phase Transitions" held at the Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture, at Erice (Trapani), Italy in July 1983 under the auspices of the Condensed Matter Division of the European Physical Society in their series on Materials Science and Technology. The student participants came from West Germany, Great Britain, Brazil, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, USA and The Netherlands. The lecturers came from various European countries, Israel, USA and Canada. The atmosphere at the meeting was excellent and a good spirit of companion ship developed during two weeks of working together. The spread of interests among the lecturers and students was divers;jfied but balanced. The main lec turing contributions are reported in this volume. They represent up-to-date reviews in a pedagogical style. In addition, informal presentations on cur rent research interests were made which have not been included. The school attempted to summarize the current position on the properties of magnetic phase transitions from several points of view. The range and scope of the oretical techniques, and of particular aspects of materials or phenomena as observed experimentally were very well put forward by the lecturers. The grouping of manuscripts in chapters does not represent, however, the sched ule followed during the school. Contributions on mean-field approximations and renormalization-group methods either for static or dynamic phenomena can be found at various places in the following sections.

This book introduces new concepts in the phenomenon of 1st order phase transitions. It discusses the concept of kinetic arrest at a certain temperature, with this temperature being dependent on the second control variable (magnetic field, or pressure). It discusses interesting manifestations of this phenomenon when the 1st order transition is broadened, i.e. occurs over a finite range of temperatures. Many examples of this phenomenon, observed recently in many materials, will also be discussed.

This volume in Advances in Physical Geochemistry presents the latest synthesis of theory and experimental data pertaining to structural and magnetic phase transitions in a variety of geochemically important minerals. The book is the first to cover the impact of this rapidly progressing area of solid state physics in earth sciences and reflects its growing significance for mineralogy and petrology.

This book introduces new concepts in the phenomenon of 1st order phase transitions. It discusses the concept of kinetic arrest at a certain temperature, with this temperature being dependent on the second control variable (magnetic field, or pressure). It discusses interesting manifestations of this phenomenon when the 1st order transition is broadened, i.e. occurs over a finite range of temperatures. Many examples of this phenomenon, observed recently in many materials, will also be discussed.

Magnetic Resonance of Phase Transitions shows how the effects of phase transitions are manifested in the magnetic resonance data. The book discusses the basic concepts of structural phase and magnetic resonance; various types of magnetic resonances and their underlying principles; and the radiofrequency methods of nuclear magnetic resonance. The text also describes quadrupole methods; the microwave technique of electron spin resonance; and the Mössbauer effect. Phase transitions in various systems such as fluids, liquid crystals, and crystals, including paramagnets and ferroelectrics, are also considered. Physicists and scientists working in energetic materials laboratories will find the book invaluable.

The Physics of Phase Transitions occupies an important place at the crossroads of several fields central to materials sciences. This second edition incorporates new developments in the states of matter physics, in particular in the domain of nanomaterials and atomic Bose-Einstein condensates where progress is accelerating. New information and application examples are included. This work deals with all classes of phase transitions in fluids and solids, containing chapters on evaporation, melting, solidification, magnetic transitions, critical phenomena, superconductivity, and more. End-of-chapter problems and complete answers are included.

A clear, concise and rigorous textbook covering phase transitions in the context of advances in electronic structure and statistical mechanics.