PHASE TRANSITION
Charles François (2004). PHASE TRANSITION, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 2543.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2543 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Methodology or model |
The crossing-over from one state to another in a system.
Phase transitions are a common feature in “physical, chemical, biological, mechanical or electrical systems” (H. HAKEN, 1983, p.46). The shift linked to temperature and pressure between different states of water is a classical example. Others are the onset of supraconductivity or ferromagnetism.
H. HAKEN writes: “Synergic systems may undergo continuous or discontinuous transitions, and they may exhibit features such as symmetry-breaking, critical slowing down, and critical fluctuations” (p.314).
Phase transitions may appear in a stochastic way in ergodic systems.