Solid-liquid phase transitions
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In a fluid, solid-liquid phase transitions are thought of as being governed mainly by entropy. This is at variance with the gas-liquid phase transition, which is mainly governed by energy.
This point of view is supported by the solid-liquid transition being not being greatly dependent on the temperature, but on the density. Accordingly, the hard sphere fluid, for which temperature does not enter at all, exhibits a solid-liquid transition.
See also[edit]
- Kosterlitz-Thouless transition
- Lindemann melting law
- Melting curve
- Spinodal decomposition
- Supercooling and nucleation
References[edit]
- Related reading