A Student's Guide to Phase Transitions
, Washington State University
Coming soon
Online ISBN: 9781009664721
Expected online publication date:
August 2026
Paperback ISBN: 9781009664684
Expected Paperback publication date: 31 August 2026
Hardback ISBN: 9781009664677
Expected Hardback publication date: 31 August 2026
- Textbook
Phase transitions take place when a substance changes from one physical state to another, and they are of fundamental importance in science and engineering with applications ranging from superconductivity to climate science. This Student's Guide coherently examines the underlying dynamics of phase transitions, beginning with a detailed description of phase diagrams and their graphical interpretation, before introducing the van der Waals equations of state. It progresses to more advanced topics such as mean-field theory in magnetic systems, phase transitions in binary mixtures, and other more exotic types of phase transitions in liquid crystals, superconductors, and superfluids. A separate chapter covers the unique and subtle phase transition dynamics of water. The book includes numerous worked examples and problems, with full solutions available online. It will be a valuable resource for students and lifelong learners in the physical sciences and engineering.
Phase transitions take place when a substance changes from one physical state to another, and they are of fundamental importance in science and engineering with applications ranging from superconductivity to climate science. This Student's Guide coherently examines the underlying dynamics of phase transitions, beginning with a detailed description of phase diagrams and their graphical interpretation, before introducing the van der Waals equations of state. It progresses to more advanced topics such as mean-field theory in magnetic systems, phase transitions in binary mixtures, and other more exotic types of phase transitions in liquid crystals, superconductors, and superfluids. A separate chapter covers the unique and subtle phase transition dynamics of water. The book includes numerous worked examples and problems, with full solutions available online. It will be a valuable resource for students and lifelong learners in the physical sciences and engineering.
