5 - Phase Transitions
from Part I - Basics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 September 2026
Summary
This chapter focuses on phase transitions, either with or without a change in symmetry. The generic Ginzburg–Landau description of phase transitions in terms of an emergent energy functional for the order parameter is introduced, and the role of spatial variations and spatial fluctuations is highlighted. The universality of this description and its applicability across domains of physics is emphasised.
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- Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking , pp. 80 - 94Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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