New research offers clearer insight into how phase transitions unfold at the atomic scale in real materials. When ice turns into water, the change happens almost instantly. Once the melting ...

Physicists with the U.S. Department of Energy have discovered a new phase of matter—and, with apologies to George R. R. Martin, it's something of "a song of ice and fire." The new phase comes in the ...

A team of researchers reported the first direct observation of a surprising quantum phenomenon predicted over half a century ago known as a superradiant phase transition, which occurs when two groups ...

Researchers in the Department of Theoretical Physics at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, have ...

Quantum phase transitions represent fundamental changes between distinct quantum states of matter, driven not by thermal fluctuations but by quantum fluctuations at zero temperature. These transitions ...

Researchers explore the transformation dynamics of cubic liquid crystals using direct simulation and machine learning, offering new possibilities for advanced materials development. Researchers have ...

Percolation theory constitutes a cornerstone of statistical physics, offering a framework to understand how local connectivity in systems gives rise to macroscopic phase transitions. Originally ...

When ice melts into water, it happens quickly, with the transition from solid to liquid being immediate. However, very thin materials do not adhere to these rules. Instead, an unusual state between so ...

The toughness, ductility, and wear resistance of metallic alloys are dictated by the phases present in their microstructure and how these phases are distributed. During heat treatments such as ...

A team of Rice University researchers reported the first direct observation of a surprising quantum phenomenon predicted over half a century ago, opening pathways for revolutionary applications in ...