Introduction to Critical Phenomena in Fluids


Book Description

Introduction to Critical Phenomena in Fluids encompasses the fundamentals of this relatively young field, as well as applications in the fields of chemical engineering, analytical chemistry, and environmental remediation processing. The exercises in the text have been developed in a way that makes the book suitable for graduate courses in chemical engineering thermodynamics and physical chemistry.




The Critical Point


Book Description

The relationship between liquids and gases engaged the attention of a number of distinguished scientists in the mid 19th Century. In a definitive paper published in 1869, Thomas Andrews described experiments he performed on carbon dioxide and from which he concluded that a critical temperature exists below which liquids and gases are distinct phase




The Theory of Critical Phenomena


Book Description

The successful calculation of critical exponents for continuous phase transitions is one of the main achievements of theoretical physics over the last quarter-century. This was achieved through the use of scaling and field-theoretic techniques which have since become standard equipment in many areas of physics, especially quantum field theory. This book provides a thorough introduction to these techniques. Continuous phase transitions are introduced, then the necessary statistical mechanics is summarized, followed by standard models, some exact solutions and techniques for numerical simulations. The real-space renormalization group and mean-field theory are then explained and illustrated. The final chapters cover the Landau-Ginzburg model, from physical motivation, through diagrammatic perturbation theory and renormalization to the renormalization group and the calculation of critical exponents above and below the critical temperature.




Introduction to Conformal Invariance and Its Applications to Critical Phenomena


Book Description

The history of critical phenomena goes back to the year 1869 when Andrews discovered the critical point of carbon dioxide, located at about 31°C and 73 atmospheres pressure. In the neighborhood ofthis point the carbon dioxide was observed to become opalescent, that is, light is strongly scattered. This is nowadays interpreted as comingfrom the strong fluctuations of the system close to the critical point. Subsequently, a wide varietyofphysicalsystems were realized to display critical points as well. Ofparticular importance was the observation of a critical point in ferromagnetic iron by Curie. Further examples include multicomponent fluids and alloys, superfluids, superconductors, polymers and may even extend to the quark-gluon plasmaand the early universe as a whole. Early theoretical investigationstried to reduce the problem to a very small number of degrees of freedom, such as the van der Waals equation and mean field approximations and culminating in Landau's general theory of critical phenomena. In a dramatic development, Onsager's exact solutionofthe two-dimensional Ising model made clear the important role of the critical fluctuations. Their role was taken into account in the subsequent developments leading to the scaling theories of critical phenomena and the renormalization group. These developements have achieved a precise description of the close neighborhood of the critical point and results are often in good agreement with experiments. In contrast to the general understanding a century ago, the presence of fluctuations on all length scales at a critical point is today emphasized.




Conformal Invariance and Critical Phenomena


Book Description

Critical phenomena arise in a wide variety of physical systems. Classi cal examples are the liquid-vapour critical point or the paramagnetic ferromagnetic transition. Further examples include multicomponent fluids and alloys, superfluids, superconductors, polymers and fully developed tur bulence and may even extend to the quark-gluon plasma and the early uni verse as a whole. Early theoretical investigators tried to reduce the problem to a very small number of degrees of freedom, such as the van der Waals equation and mean field approximations, culminating in Landau's general theory of critical phenomena. Nowadays, it is understood that the common ground for all these phenomena lies in the presence of strong fluctuations of infinitely many coupled variables. This was made explicit first through the exact solution of the two-dimensional Ising model by Onsager. Systematic subsequent developments have been leading to the scaling theories of critical phenomena and the renormalization group which allow a precise description of the close neighborhood of the critical point, often in good agreement with experiments. In contrast to the general understanding a century ago, the presence of fluctuations on all length scales at a critical point is emphasized today. This can be briefly summarized by saying that at a critical point a system is scale invariant. In addition, conformal invaTiance permits also a non-uniform, local rescal ing, provided only that angles remain unchanged.




Introduction to Statistical Physics


Book Description

This textbook covers the basic principles of statistical physics and thermodynamics. The text is pitched at the level equivalent to first-year graduate studies or advanced undergraduate studies. It presents the subject in a straightforward and lively manner. After reviewing the basic probability theory of classical thermodynamics, the author addresses the standard topics of statistical physics. The text demonstrates their relevance in other scientific fields using clear and explicit examples. Later chapters introduce phase transitions, critical phenomena and non-equilibrium phenomena.




Introduction to the Theory of Critical Phenomena


Book Description

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory of phase transitions and critical phenomena. The content covers a period of more than 100 years of theoretical research of condensed matter phases and phase transitions providing a clear interrelationship with experimental problems. It starts from certain basic University knowledge of thermodynamics, statistical physics and quantum mechanics. The text is illustrated with classic examples of phase transitions. Various types of phase transition and (multi)critical points are introduced and explained. The classic aspects of the theory are naturally related with the modern developments. This interrelationship and the field-theoretical renormalization group method are presented in details. The main applications of the renormalization group methods are presented. Special attention is paid to the description of quantum phase transitions. This edition contains a more detailed presentation of the renormalization group method and its applications to particular systems.




Photon Correlation and Light Beating Spectroscopy


Book Description

This volume contains the invited lectures and seminars and abstracts of the contributed seminars presented at the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Photon Correlation and Light Beating Spectroscopy held at the Centro Caprense Di Vita E Di Studi Ignazio Cerio, Capri, Italy, July 16-27, 1973. The Institute was organized to provide a com~rehen8ive presentation of this new and rapidly developing field for those interested in applying these techniques to problems in many areas including Physics, Biology, Engineering and Chemistry. The lectures were divided into three principal categories: the first Basic Theory (Photon Statistics and Correlation, Scattering Theory), secondly Instrumentation (Correlation Techniques, Light Beating), and the third Areas of Application (Gas and Liquid Dynamics, Critical Phenomena, Biology). The seminars provided detailed presentations of applications to a number of specific problems. - Although the selection of topics was inevitably li mi ted, i t was the hope of the organizing committee that the lectures would provide a broad coverage appropriate for the needs of the interdisciplinary audience represented by the participants, and that this volume would serve for some years to come as a useful introduction for those entering the field. The members of the Organizing Committee were: E.R. Pike, RRE, Malvern U.K. } Co-directors H.Z. Cummins, New York University M. Bertolotti, Universita di Roma - LocalOrganizer J.M. Vaughan, RRE, Malvern, U.K. Secretary H. Swinney, New York University Treasurer P. Lallemand, Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris H. Haken, Universitat Stuttgart, Germany.







Solubility in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide


Book Description

Supercritical fluid extraction is an environmentally safe and cost-effective alternative to traditional organic solvents. Carbon dioxide is widely used as the solvent of choice for applications such as caffeine and nicotine extraction due to its mild critical temperature, nontoxicity, nonflammability, and low cost. Introducing the most complete col