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A criterion for symmetric tricritical points in condensed ordered phases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2011

F. BISI
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Matematica, Università di Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy email: [email protected] Laboratory of Applied Mathematics, Fondazione Università di Mantova, Via Scarsellini 2, 46100 Mantova, Italy email: [email protected]
E. C. GARTLAND JR.
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA email: [email protected]
E. G. VIRGA
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Matematica, Università di Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy email: [email protected]

Abstract

Basic methods from bifurcation theory are applied to derive a criterion that predicts when a symmetric tricritical point may occur in a transition between condensed ordered phases described by any finite number of scalar order parameters. At such a point, a change of order takes place in the phase transition, which passes from first to second order, or vice versa.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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