First-order microcanonical transitions in finite mean-field models

Details First-order microcanonical transitions in finite mean-field models First-order microcanonical transitions in finite mean-field models

2004-01-12

arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0401177v1

Europhys. Lett., 66 (5), pp. 645-651 (2004)

Physics

Condensed Matter

Statistical Mechanics

7 pages, Latex - 6 EPS Figs - submitted to Europhys. Lett

Scientific paper

10.1209/epl/i2004-10028-6

A microcanonical first order transition, connecting a clustered to a homogeneous phase, is studied from both the thermodynamic and dynamical point of view for a N-body Hamiltonian system with infinite-range couplings. In the microcanonical ensemble specific heat can be negative, but besides that, a microcanonical first order transition displays a temperature discontinuity as the energy is varied continuously (a dual phenomenon to the latent heat in the canonical ensemble). In the transition region, the entropy per particle exhibits, as a function of the order parameter, two relative maxima separated by a minimum. The relaxation of the metastable state is shown to be ruled by an activation process induced by intrinsic finite N fluctuations. In particular, numerical evidences are given that the escape time diverges exponentially with N, with a growth rate given by the entropy barrier.

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