We consider a sharp interface kinetic model of phase transitions accompanied by elastic strain, together with its phase-field realization. Quantitative results for the steady-state growth of a new phase in a strip geometry are obtained, and different pattern formation processes in this system are investigated.

It is demonstrated that under common conditions a molecular solid subject to Jahn-Teller interactions supports stable Q-ball-like nontopological solitons. Such solitons represent a localized lump of excess electric charge in periodic motion accompanied by a time-dependent shape distortion of a set of adjacent molecules. The motion of the distortion can correspond to a true rotation or to a pseu...

The use of the photoacoustic effect in the investigation of firstand second-order phase transitions has been examined. Changes in the amplitude of the photoacoustic signal across the phase transition are compared with changes in thermal properties such as specific heat and thermal diffusivity. The systemsstudied include NaN02, TlN03, CsN03, NH4N03, BaTiO,, COO, Cu,HgI,, V 0 2 andV305. The curre...

Landau theory provides a group-theoretical method for determining which symmetry changes can occur in second-order phase transitions in solids. The irreducible representations of the space group of the higher-symmetry phase must satisfy certain conditions. For transitions to commensurate crystalline structures, the Landau and Lifshitz conditions must be satisfied. For transitions to incommensur...

This technical note explains the disadvantages of manual solid phase extraction (SPE) techniques and the benefits to be gained with automatic systems. The note reports on a number of general and highly specific applications using the Sample Preparation Unit OSP-2A.

Structural inhomogeneity is ubiquitous in solid crystals and plays critical roles in phase nucleation and propagation. Here, we develop a heterogeneous solid-solid phase transition theory for predicting the prevailing heterophase junctions, the metastable states governing microstructure evolution in solids. Using this theory and first-principles pathway sampling simulation, we determine two typ...