phase transition

American  

[fayz-tran-zish-uhn] / ˈfeɪz trænˌzɪʃ ən /

noun

phase transitions plural

1. Physical Chemistry. the change from one phase of a substance to another, such as from solid to liquid.

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phase transition Scientific  

1. A change in a feature of a physical system that results in a discrete transition of that system to another state. For example, the melting of ice is a phase transition of water from a solid phase to a liquid phase. Phase transitions often involve the absorption or emission of energy from the system; ice, at 0 ° Celsius, must absorb a considerable amount of heat energy to become water.

2. See also state of matter thermodynamics

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• phase transitions
  plural

Example Sentences

Thermodynamic measurements revealed a clear phase transition, showing that the system entered a magnetically ordered state.

From Science Daily • Jan. 21, 2026

Non-equilibrium phase transition: a change in the state of a system that occurs when it is not in thermal equilibrium, often driven by external forces or energy input.

From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2024

Understanding the electromagnetic properties of the QGP may help physicists unravel the mysteries of the phase transition between QGP and ordinary nuclear matter made of protons and neutrons.

From Science Daily • May 17, 2024

The agents change from a disordered to an ordered state in what is called a "phase transition."

From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2024

Eventually there would be what is called a phase transition and the symmetry between the forces would be broken: the strong force would become different from the weak and electromagnetic forces.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking