Phase Transition Temperature
The specific temperature at which a distinct phase transition occurs within a substance, marking a change in its physical properties.
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The statement of the theorem
Let be the Hamiltonian of the system, and be the inverse temperature. Define the Helmholtz free energy density via the partition function . For a continuous (second-order) phase transition, the critical temperature is defined by the condition where the coefficient of the quadratic term in the Landau expansion of the free energy density, , vanishes, while the coefficient of the quartic term, , remains positive. Specifically, let the free energy density expansion be . The critical temperature is determined by the root of , provided that the susceptibility diverges at this point, satisfying: