Paper 4, Section II, D

Statistical Physics
Part II, 2019

Give an outline of the Landau theory of phase transitions for a system with one real order parameter ϕ\phi. Describe the phase transitions that can be modelled by the Landau potentials (i) G=14ϕ4+12εϕ2G=\frac{1}{4} \phi^{4}+\frac{1}{2} \varepsilon \phi^{2}, (ii) G=16ϕ6+14gϕ4+12εϕ2G=\frac{1}{6} \phi^{6}+\frac{1}{4} g \phi^{4}+\frac{1}{2} \varepsilon \phi^{2},

where ε\varepsilon and gg are control parameters that depend on the temperature and pressure.

In case (ii), find the curve of first-order phase transitions in the (g,ε)(g, \varepsilon) plane. Find the region where it is possible for superheating to occur. Find also the region where it is possible for supercooling to occur.